Musings

A few months ago, during a routine physical, my physician found a lump on my thyroid. You know when they put their hand on your throat and ask you to swallow? That's so they can feel for any masses....

A few weekends ago, I went to the movies at the Chicago Music Box Theatre. I was keen to see a new release that was only available in theaters: Women Talking. The film is an adaptation of the Miriam...

When the "storm of the century" was due to hit Chicago right before Christmas, coinciding with our flights out to visit my parents in Santa Barbara, my husband and I decided to move our travel plans...

For nearly 3 years, I avoided it. I'd find out after-the-fact that I'd been exposed and still, no sign of it. Like last Christmas, when over a dozen of us gathered for the holidays and many ended up...

Two weeks ago, I woke up to a text from my friend Karen—well, really her eldest son Alec who had taken over her cell phone at her request. He wanted to let me know that his dad, Jim, had suffered a...

In midlife, many of us are rethinking our female friendships. This significant life transition—potentially involving new priorities, a geographic move, a change in work or marital or family status,...

I attended a virtual support group recently entitled "Getting Through the Holidays Together!" — I signed up because that's exactly how I feel. I have to "get through" them. In the meeting, I shared...

For most of my life, I have relied on my brain for judgment and decision making. The problem is, there's a lot of noise in my head, and it's not always pleasant. Like my shitty inner critic telling...

I have just spent one short but glorious week in Copenhagen and Paris with my husband. Both cities hold special places in my heart. Copenhagen because I was born there of a Danish mother and spent...