Hélène’s

My husband and I went out to dinner last weekend with one of our daughters as well as my mother-in-law who was visiting. The Chicago restaurant I chose is a well-established casual American eatery...

I realized quite recently that I have no hobbies. I'm an avid reader. I journal. I’ll walk my dog or meet a friend for lunch. I volunteer with women's organizations. Are these hobbies? Hmmm... Kinda...

I thought when my girls were grown that parenting would get easier. I'm finding out it's just different. For sure, the physical demands have eased. No more long nights up with a crying baby or late...

My husband Peter likes to fix things—he jokes that he's a rare breed of "handy Jew." His dream is to rebuild a vintage car someday. So when something goes awry in our house, he's quick to jump in...

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,...