Author Archives: jthere

It’s the month of trees’ flowering buds and suddenly longer days and pi/pie day and lots and lots of basketball, with the occasional great underdog story, a Farleigh Dickinson or Princeton with unexpected wins. Yes, I know it’s hard to imagine Princeton as an underdog but so be it in basketball world where places likeContinue reading “March movement”

I was in DC for the weekend thanks to a generous invite from my sister-in-law C (T’s sister), who was in from Seattle for a conference and came a few days prior so we could spend the weekend together. I took the train down from Newark, a pleasant civilized way to travel, where I satContinue reading “DC-turismo”

I went to BAM (the Brooklyn Academy of Music) this week to see Pina Bausch Dancetheatre Wuppertal. Bausch was a German choreographer who died in 2009 and there is still a company that performs her work. I’ve seen them every time they’ve come to Brooklyn since I was about 25 so I’ve been to aContinue reading “time in the dark”

I’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff lately, literally. I finally cleared off my desk last week. It was all cluttered with papers and mail and such and it didn’t really bother me but it’s so much nicer now. I was motivated by reading the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: HowContinue reading “too much stuff”

We had our meeting with the agency where V is being offered a place in a group home and it looks like it is going to happen! There were three representatives from the agency who gave a presentation and spoke about the new house that is being renovated. V was the only member of theContinue reading “change is coming”

After the weekend with V comes a big exhale. We’ve lost our home therapy now that he is 22, which makes no sense – he doesn’t need it any less, if anything it’s more important as he continues into adulthood – but then, health insurance has long been a bane of our existence. So weContinue reading “bodega days”

Hope: to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true This week V turns 22. It’s hard to believe he is so old. Birthdays are a blessing and cause for celebration. I embrace the unique person V is with love and acceptance. That’s when I’m skillful enough to stay inContinue reading “22”

Healing: the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again I’ve taken a break from writing here while I sat shiva, the period after a family member’s burial that’s meant to provide spiritual and emotional healing. Shiva translates as seven; Jewish families traditionally sat shiva for a week, though in recent years that timeContinue reading “Life Goes On”

Grief:  deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement A ride on Amtrak is a lovely way to end an emotional few day visit to my father, who is dying. I have no outpouring of tears yet although my grief is palpable. I long for that catharsis that crying brings but forContinue reading “Gratitude and Grief”

The holiday break ended at last, V went back to school on Tuesday. As is always the case with long holidays off from school it is a challenge to have so many days without the structure with which he thrives. So it was good to have four days of mini camp in the middle ofContinue reading “Breaks and Hope”