Write Away!

Several days ago, I decided to write a short story about a trip that I took to San Diego in 2005.  I've gone on some amazing trips with my brother Bob over the past decade, and thinking about that trip in particular filled me with a sense of adventure. Yesterday morning, Bob called and asked…

Taking life lightly

After writing Friday's post, about bringing more fun into our lives, I couldn't get the image of Mary Poppins out of my head. I hadn't seen the movie since I was a kid, so I did some research on-line about her character. I loved the way that she was described as a magical person who…

Won’t you come out to play?

It feels like the deep winter today. It's cold and dark and even the cats don't want to go out for more than a couple of minutes. As I sat outside this morning, thinking about the day and how to brighten it, I thought it might be fun to play a game with any of…

The game of Life

Jack and I saw a house on-line (in Middlebury) yesterday, so we decided to take a ride up and do a drive-by. Everything about it: age (it was built in 1798), location, and neighborhood, felt perfect. Driving around the block several times (very slowly) I noticed someone moving inside and thought that they might be…

Nap time

We got home last night at 10:30 which is super-late for us, but we were having such a great time, that we didn't want it to end. The cats really don't care how late I go to bed, they want me up by 5 and I generally oblige (because they won't give up until I…

The Spirit of Play

When my son Tom was three, he wanted a toy gun more than anything. He asked us, it seemed, almost everyday for one, but we did not want to encourage "violent" behaviour so did not give in to his pleading. We bought him a plastic yard set; rake, shovel and hoe instead. I looked out…

Inventing new games. Playing “with” the Universe

I came home Wednesday to find this photograph of Jack on my desk.  He was 16 at the time it was taken. I couldn't stop looking at it. I've never seen him smile that way before...so relaxed, so happy looking, so fresh. He seems to be thinking, "Don't worry about anything, life is really good!"…

Wear your play clothes!

I received an invitation to a friend's wedding, several weeks ago and was delighted when I read the words,  "Dress is casual. Wear your play clothes...." Over the past several years, I have been trying to remember, or maybe learn anew, how to play. When I was visiting the ocean last week, I stood knee-high…