Author Archives: jthere

Flying solo x 2: Yesterday T left for Portland to visit B, the first time he has seen him since he moved in April; also the first time he’s been on a plane since he flew to Seattle nearly 3 years ago.  I’m so happy for him, that he and B will have the nextContinue reading “Flying Solo”

Settling back in from a glorious vacation the to do list for V comes barreling towards me. These are tasks that fully consume my time and energy. It is why my answer to being asked if I work is, “Yes, I just don’t get paid.” It’s a bit too harsh though I realize, and servesContinue reading “To Do/Overdone”

Back from a wonderful trip to Portland. B is great and so is his chosen city. Beautiful architecture, gardens and parks, delicious food, friendly people – even in cars they’re cordial out there! – stunning roses, the only thorn being the huge homelessness problem. Portland has the highest homeless population per capita of any USContinue reading “PDX-ewr: returning”

EWR-PDX Friday September 24th 11 am has been imprinted on my brain for the past month like a beacon of hope, that thing to look forward to that has kept me going. That is when I am scheduled to depart from Newark for Portland to visit B for four days. I’ve been so excited toContinue reading “away at last”

We often communicate with abbreviations or brevity as placeholders when we don’t want to get into the details. How are things going? “Hanging in there” is my favorite response. It keeps things vague, not too negative. But in leaving out the details there is so much I don’t share, and with that, so much thatContinue reading “the details”

Happy new year! Whether you are Jewish or not, it is the start of a new season.I’ve been thinking a lot and writing a little, having relished the break from this blog, which was hard to maintain when V had no school, camp, or any structured activities. In addition to swimming, which is my summerContinue reading “Prayers all Around”

I’m struck by two big news stories this week and how they reflect and refract each other, one in DC and the other in Tokyo.  “Quitting is the new winning” is a comment I read in response to the recent spate of iconic women athletes dropping out of competitions to tend to their mental health:Continue reading “quitting is the new winning”

BFF S came to visit this past weekend and we had a wonderful few days filled with great conversation, food, walking and art. We spent a day in the city visiting museums, something I realize I haven’t done in a couple of years, what with the big swath of time taken up by Covid. TheContinue reading “People Come First”

The other day I was in my solitary lap lane in the pool when a woman yelled out “Look! A deer!” And everyone in the water – it was late morning, so less than a dozen of us were wet so early in the day – stopped and watched a big deer go bounding byContinue reading “Midsummer’s Bounty”

Of all my stories from 20 years of living in the city it is this one, which I was reminded of this past week, that may be the New Yorkiest. Parent teacher conference night can last a long time, if you attend a school, as we did, with a procedure where you sign in onContinue reading “it happened one night”