Considering the Olympics and Our Mental and National Health
I haven’t been watching the Olympics. Part of why is that I’ve been quite busy with work. I also am one of those who think we shouldn’t be bringing together all these athletes, trainers, journalists, and other support persons during a pandemic (even if the spectators...
Pondering the Complexity of Abundance in Monsoon Season
In last week’s post I pondered flooding around the world. Then, on Thursday, I joined my friend Kelsea Habecker’s online women’s writing and reflection circle for the first time (you can learn more about it here) and the theme was abundance. Here in Southern Arizona,...
Pondering Flooding around the World
Just a month ago I was contemplating fire season here in the southwestern United States. Now the rains have arrived and I’m pondering flooding. The monsoon definitely arrived here in Arizona with a vengeance last week. On Wednesday, it rained for more than an hour at...
Summer Seeds Are Falling Like Leaves
If you were to walk the streets of my neighborhood these days, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s autumn. The portions of sidewalks and yards under trees are carpeted with piles—but those are not piles of leaves. Instead, if you were to step closer, you would...
The Challenging Gift of Communal Living
I seldom get sick, but I’ve ended up in urgent care twice over the past month. The first time was for fever and body aches and fear of COVID-19, despite the fact that I’m fully vaccinated. The second time, just last week, was because of a wicked sore throat that I...
Coexisting in a Crowded World
A couple of weeks ago I got a surprise on my morning walk. As you can see from the photo above, I encountered a family of javelinas in one of the parks in my neighborhood. They weren’t happy to see me, and most of them ran quickly by (making them appear somewhat...
Contemplating Another Fire Season in the Desert Southwest
It’s fire season here in Arizona. There are multiple fires burning across the state, exacerbated by drought conditions that blanket the entire state and, in fact, the entire American Southwest. Yes, deserts are dry places, but most deserts get at least some rain, and...
Inviting Chaos in Service of Improvement
Our house is in chaos at the moment. After living in the same place for longer than we ever have in our married lives, it’s time to replace the worn-out carpeting in the living areas and hallways of our home. (With the exception of bedrooms, the idea of carpeted...
Handling the Heat of Summer
Summer heat has arrived here in southern Arizona. The mercury is now hitting triple digits every afternoon. This is typical for summer, but the low desert climate does bring its challenges. My vegetable garden is populated with non-native plants (everything from...
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