Archive for the 'Family' Category

Playing in the Sacramento River

Last year, we let Rowan and Kestrel go to Nana and Grandpa Allen’s for a week. Without us. It was a huge step for me, as a mother, to let my babies go, even to people who I knew were going to take fabulous care of them. But I also recognized that it was time [...]

Thank You, Judge Vaughn Walker

I’m actually sitting here crying. Proposition 8, California’s infamous hate law, has been declared unconstitutional. This means so many good things. First, for me, is that I believe in marriage. Deeply. I think that if two people actually choose to swim upstream against the constant steady running stream of forces that try to rip a [...]

When Chosen Family Comes Through

Last weekend, I went to Santa Barbara to visit an old friend. It’s kind of symptomatic of the new world we live in, and of choice. Laura is someone I refer to as chosen family. She’s been with me through my growth into motherhood. She’s seen me make some egregious mistakes and have some spectacular [...]

The Secret Powers of Time

I don’t remember who sent this to me, but I totally love it. I don’t agree with all of it, but it’s fascinating to consider. And hey, he talks about Italy! Bonus!

Rowan’s Eight — A Lego Birthday

Rowan is very nonchalant about his birthdays. He wanted a cake. Not three cakes like I made his brother, or two like his sister had. Just one. Vanilla, please. Nothing fancy, just cake. He wanted sushi. Just the regular order; he didn’t want, say four whole Lion King rolls to himself. No. Just the usual; [...]

Family at the End

Last night, my dear friend Walter‘s mother, Liz, passed away. She was, as he, his father, and his sister all said, “a kick in the pants.” I’d met her a few times over the years, at the spectacular bridgebuilding event known as “Walter’s Birthday Party,” where he’d invite a bunch of random people to his [...]

Best Family Blog Ever

I know that BlogHer and Technorati and lots of other places have lots of criteria by which they rate blogs. I know that a gazillion and a half people have opinions about the best parenting and family blogs. Me? I think that Well, Yeah is the best. Period. Hands down, far and away, the best [...]

Me n My Girl

Missing Charlie

Today is the one year anniversary of the last day I ever saw my friend Charlie. She had the biggest heart of anyone we’ve ever met. As one of our marina compatriots said, “every time you ran into Charlie on the dock, you came away feeling uplifted. She had something good to say about everyone, [...]

Velveeta of Grief

As the folks who read my other blog know, I’m writing a book about the process of turning your back on the American definition of success, and doing something else entirely. I wrote a bunch of stuff for the book that I’m now editing back out, for one reason or another (like, I was freaking [...]

Walking in the Park

No big deal. Just a walk on a day when everyone needed to be outside.

Aurora’s Two!

We decided to keep Little Miss Northern Light’s second birthday fairly low-key. I know that a lot of parents make other choices, and that’s totally fine. Considering that all three of our children’s birthdays are jammed together over a little less than two months that also happen to include Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Fourth of [...]