alexm1008

How I learned to stop worrying and love Tiana’s Splash Mountain

I have not been a person historically comfortable with change. I don’t think this makes me particularly unique amongst human beings as we are generally not comfortable with change. But, the mere thought of change has generally sent me into an emotional state and caused such distress that I am unwilling and unable to putContinue reading “How I learned to stop worrying and love Tiana’s Splash Mountain”

The me in the shadows.

I think we’re all in the process of building our own narratives at all times. We’re drafting the story of who we are and how we want others to see us. Crafting our image and caring for its upkeep is a full time pre-occupation. Sometimes I wonder if we’re more devoted to what we wantContinue reading “The me in the shadows.”

Acculturated Minnesotan

Thinking about travel makes me think about the things I have learned from the various places we have lived and visited over the years. From France, I learned mindfulness and pursuit of pleasure in daily tasks. From England, a sense of tradition and history. From Northern Minnesota, the peace of waiting for the call ofContinue reading “Acculturated Minnesotan”

The Flâneur

I have spent a great deal of time over the past several months thinking about travel. Longing for travel. Cancelling planned travel. Planning more travel. Cancelling that travel. Something about not being able to leave one’s home makes one absolutely desperate to, well, leave one’s home. I’m incredibly fortunate to have this be a sourceContinue reading “The Flâneur”

Petunia and Lily

I have saved things that I have written over the last few months and not published them because I was worried that they are not the right things to say or that people will judge me for my feelings about what’s happened. Who am I to think that I have valuable thoughts about cancel cultureContinue reading “Petunia and Lily”

Jasmine

My memories of this period of quarantine in the face of an out of control pandemic will probably always be triggered by the scent of jasmine. I have run every single day, some days the run has been more of a walk interspersed with moments of jogging. Some days the run has been only accomplishedContinue reading “Jasmine”

Failure

I’m a failure. I failed at my goal to write every day. It got difficult to think of things to write. I felt like I wasn’t writing anything worth reading. I felt like an imposter. Who am I to hold myself out as an expert? To think that I might have anything to add toContinue reading “Failure”

Birthday

Today is my birthday. It is also the second anniversary of the burial of my Grandmother, which happened to occur on what would have been her 90th birthday. I will always think about her on my birthday because it was always her birthday first. A thing I was lucky enough to share with her. SheContinue reading “Birthday”

Thank you

Thank you is such a simple phrase and also one that is so hard to say. At the moment the Dancer is struggling through her interminable thank you note project following her birthday party. She’s grateful for the gifts, of course, but the process of writing the notes has been painful for everyone involved. ThankContinue reading “Thank you”

Runaway train

I feel some pretty deep ambivalence lately about our level of activity and plans. I love how busy and engaged my kids are and, for the most part (hello piano) we’ve let them pick their own activities and pursue any of their interests that they’re willing to work for. But it comes at the expenseContinue reading “Runaway train”