As if in celebration of my “twin sister” Jenny and I finally taking our trip together, Italy mirrored our joy with a symphony of doubles. And sometimes triples. And an infinite number of memorable moments in the two weeks we were together. I’ll start with the Davides. Dah-vee-day. A Davide I met on my last … Continue reading
Category Archives: Articles
“This changed my life” —Oprah learns about ACEs and Trauma-informed care
Re-posted from ACEs Connection & ACES Too High… “Don’t ask ‘what’s wrong with you.’ Ask, ‘what happened to you.’” I watched the Oprah segment with my mother, Dr. Louise Hart, who heard Dr. Vincent Felitti speak about the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study ten years ago. At that time, she asked him, “What is being done … Continue reading
Want More Time to Love? Joe shows you how.
In the past year, life provided me with a very special honor: to return a great soul to the world. Let me introduce you to Joe. When I was growing up, my parents would open our home to strangers and friends who enriched our lives. One of these was Joe Wions, a New Jersey kid out of … Continue reading
I Am Woman, Hear Me…Cry?
In preparation for Hillary Clinton’s landslide win on election day, I choreographed “I Am Woman“ by Helen Reddy for my Zumba class. In searching for this feminist anthem on iTunes, I flashed back to my first rock concert (with my divorced-and-discovering-her-power mom), and then stumbled on this generation’s version. When you compare the lyrics to Jordin Sparks’ (yes, highly dance-able) “empowering female … Continue reading
Muse Flash! (Mob)
The Lake I Love. When I saw the call for submissions for the first annual Aluminous Flash Mob Short Play Festival, I knew I had to write about the Pergola at Lake Merritt. How many circles have I made around that lake in all my years in Oakland? With friends, with family, alone? I walked it in … Continue reading
Eight Reasons I Wrote a Male Fairy Godmother –
In my novel, The Souls of Her Feet, the downtrodden protagonist’s life changes, as in every Cinderella story, when a Fairy Godmother appears in her life. But in this version, the “godmother” is also her real-life, legitimate godfather — the former best friend of her deceased parents. I chose to make this traditionally female character … Continue reading
Your Writing Exercise… is to Exercise!
So, even the great Socrates was into fitness. He said, “No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” I’m not sure the guy thought much about … Continue reading
Congraduations!
As my son wraps up his first 13 years of Public School Education, I am wrapping up my own 13-year career as a parent volunteer and, as it turned out, leader. I never expected, when we chose a school for Kindergarten, how much activism would be required. We entered the system at a time it was falling … Continue reading
Upstanders Stand Up in Style
Some of the most inspiring efforts to stand up against bullying are sartorial. It’s Bully Prevention Month — what are you wearing? Blue fingernails, pink shirts, guys in skirts—these have all been movements to stand up to bullying. Read more about it at Upstanders Stand Up in Style: Guest Post by Kristen Caven | OverDressed for … Continue reading