During college, I ran outside all winter long. Ann Arbor, Michigan has a respectable winter, with cold and snow. And I still ran. I stayed plenty warm. The only problem was that I had a tendency to cough for hours afterward. My lungs didn’t seem to like the cold air. That was my excuse to stop running outside in the winter when I moved to Minnesota, where the winters are Continue Reading
Love Can Make You Cry
People cry because of physical pain, frustration, or love. We hope to minimize crying out of physical pain or frustration. But crying out of love is a beautiful thing. Last week I attended my Grandmother’s funeral. Her death was not unexpected. Her health had slowly deteriorated. When she entered hospice care, we knew she had only days to live. She had lived a full 84 Continue Reading
What Everybody Ought to Know About Magic
Do you believe in magic? Before you answer, here is one definition from Merriam-Webster: Magic: something that seems to cast a spell, enchantment OR an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source. Look at the picture below. That picture was taken on my recent backpacking trip on the Superior Hiking Trail. It is an un-retouched picture. Naked, if Continue Reading
Why Some People Think I’m Crazy
Have you ever had one of those moments of great personal insight? Well, I had one yesterday. This week I joined my husband on his business trip to Door County, Wisconsin. Door County is a peninsula extending 70 miles north into Lake Michigan. I have a deep fondness for the Great Lakes, especially Lake Michigan. We had a few hours free between obligations, so we decided to Continue Reading
Warning: Trips With Siblings May Result in Childish Behavior
Emotionally, I am a firecracker. Out of nowhere, a strong emotion will come bursting out, provide a large display, and fizzle back into the dark. That strong emotion can be anything from extreme joy to terrible darkness, not unlike Anne of Green Gables. Others close to me, like my husband, are emotional sponges. They absorb whatever emotion they are soaked in. Believe me, Continue Reading
