Author Archives: heather

I found out that Kamala Harris lost and Trump would be our next president at about 1 o’clock in the morning, when Tatum woke me up, crying. She fell asleep with me, inconsolable. I knew how she felt. While more than half the country clearly appreciates Trump’s vision for our future, I find it destructive.Continue reading “Election Reflection”

Hugh’s friends in Poland were baffled when he explained that the rest of his family lived in California, DC, Nashville and Copenhagen…simultaneously. “Do you not like each other?” they asked. We do, very much. And this is why having my mother live across the country from me, or vice versa, still kind of stinks. InContinue reading “The Older I Get, the More I Need My Parents”

It snowed yesterday, which was a cue that fall is about to slip into winter, and I haven’t shared fall updates in awhile. Highlights include Halloween and a visit from Grandoug Einstein and Mama Zombie; college applications dropped in the metaphorical mail box; I became a professional photographer; Kyiven signing the largest Bank loan ever;Continue reading “Bite of an Orange Fall”

And they’re off! Like circus cats in a clown car, the tiny green Mini rolled down the street with Tatum behind the wheel, Clara beside her, likely fiddling with the radio, and Finn, now the tallest among them, stuffed in the back like a folding chair holding a fat backpack. It’s a miracle they canContinue reading “Farewell Boat Rides, Hello Convertible”

“It’s really surreal. One minute I’m meeting with my team in the shelter and then I’m eating a $7 ribeye at this little European bistro on the sidewalk with some colleagues, and it’s beautiful,” Kevin said over the phone on his first night in Kyiv. What’s also surreal was hearing the missile alerts speak toContinue reading “Where in Creation is Kyiven? A Surreal Life in Cyrillic”

It’s hard to capture Clara smiling in a family photo this year—and her school photos could wither a spider (no offense)—but this girl in the middle of some little kids and she’s lit up like a hot tamale. They banded around this beautiful child of mine like fans to a rock star, which she is.Continue reading “Hugs, Hand Games and Plastic Sheets in San José”

Clara Riding ATVs, the butterfly garden, swimming in the surf with Dad and Tatum, and playing Old Maid in The pavilion. Especially swimming with Tay. Tay Riding ATVs, swimming in the ocean with Clara, taking a nap in the hammock, playing Old Maid last night, and Finn’s competition. Finn Eating food with the family, walkingContinue reading “Pura Vida in Costa Rica: Highlights”

Kids from the Indy Air Bears, Proform Airborne, The Comet Skippers, Raincity Ropes, and Kangaroo Kids, among other teams, shouted “You got this!” or “Yeah!” or “Push it!” Parents clapped and hollered from the bleachers—and may or may not have played a lot of bananagrams. Judges nursed thumbs sore from clicking clickers for hours. JumpContinue reading “Reaching New Heights, a National Champion”

It’s not often a girl turns 21. Once to be precise! Plans to go to Rocklands Farm Winery were rightly superseded by friends whisking Marley out for a surprise picnic and bar hop, so we settled on alfresco dining with a sunset view over Bethesda and beyond from Blitz’s ritzy rooftop terrace. Marley is creativeContinue reading “Marley the Fairy Goddaughter”