I definitely wasn’t thinking about Christmas when I took a job 3,000 miles away from my family that spring. I was eager to complete my training as a whitewater river guide, then to spend a glorious summer rafting wild and scenic rivers. It was demanding work but what bliss! When November arrived I discovered nearly […]

Many people believe that we don’t have memories at age 2 and 3. But we do. In many cases, just fragments, but, for example, Yo-Yo Ma could play the violin at age 3 and switched to cello at 4. I had a violin student once who could play Bach at 3. At the age of […]

“I am sick of looking on the bright side!” Thus spoke one of my daughters after being admonished to do just that in the wake of some childhood disappointment. Now all of us are too exhausted by the pandemic’s legacy of loss and anxiety to search for the bright side or even to believe it exists. […]

In July 1951, our family moved to Maine from New York. Even though not quite 6 years old, I would never actually be a true Mainer, according to those fortunate enough to be born here. Living in Buckfield, Maine, was quite a shock. Going to a one-room schoolhouse with attached outhouses took some getting used […]

Amid an urge to hang on to a dream,  I spill out into the night saying, “How great!” She says, “I’m sleeping.” It’s warm and soft and dark under the covers, but off I go. I limp downstairs in the dark to a cold thermostat, and up it goes from the 50s. Temperature wasn’t 55 quite, […]