ESSAYS
The Other Side of the River — Brevity
I’m at an impasse. I’ve carved out time to write in a beautiful setting with a pond and ocean before me. Just me and my two dogs. I walk them almost every morning on the beach before towels and coolers cover the sand and people run in and out of the sea.
Co-Writing Works — Brevity
When I went to the florist to get some holiday cheer for my house—white hydrangeas and some greenery—I was on the clock. I had a standing appointment at 12:30 I couldn’t miss. Several times a week, I log on to Zoom in Boston and write with friends I’ve made: from Dubai and Amsterdam, British Columbia and Seattle.
A Bookstore Tour Across the United States
I thought being stuck in a small car with my husband might get irritating, but we actually made a good team
I was more than hesitant when my husband, Matt, suggested we drive across the continental United States after a year in Hawaii. I thought being stuck in a small car with him would become irritating, and I was angry about leaving Oahu after I had worked so hard to make a life for myself there.
Cringing, Crying, and Celebrating — Brevity
I recently reread my memoir-in-progress, about my oldest daughter leaving for college and my subsequent collapse in despair. My daughter is now 11 years out of college and has been married for four. I am older too, and have recovered from that depression. But as I read it, I squirmed in my chair with anxiety.
The Benefits of Being a Student — Brevity
Standing at the baseline, ready to serve my first tennis game since forever, I panicked. I’d had a strong serve through my 40s, but somewhere in my 50s, I’d lost it. No more aces. No more getting it over the net or even into the serving box. My friends on the opposite side of the net shared advice.
A Glamorous Retreat? No Thanks, I’m Good! — Brevity
The world is slowly opening, and we’re all trying to figure out what’s safe to do. I’ve started seeing notices and ads announcing writing retreats coming up in different locales – Italy, Florida, Cuba, and Newfoundland – and notices about residencies to which a writer can apply to work in solitude and join others for meals.
Ripping the Seams: On Writing and Quilting — Brevity
I looked over the quilt on my sewing table and sighed. Just as I thought. The rows of squares and rectangles didn’t line up. Time for the seam ripper. With the quilt in my lap, I tore out the stitches I had carefully made a few minutes earlier.
I’ve loved putting down roots in one welcoming Cambridge neighborhood — The Boston Globe
When my daughter Maggie got engaged, I ran into the shops and restaurants on the two-block section of Huron Avenue in my Cambridge neighborhood to share the news with the merchants who had watched her grow up.
They Hated My Orange Dress — Brevity
“Oh my god,” I said. “Look at this.” I handed my laptop to my daughter, Ellie. We were in our TV room. After many unsuccessful submissions, the Boston Globe Magazine had just published my essay and I was ecstatic. For their Connections vertical, I’d written about how stores and restaurants in my neighborhood were closing and what that meant to my family. Not only were we regular customers, my daughters had worked in these establishments. We had become friends with the store owners. I thought this was a piece about change and loss, something I’ve encountered a lot in my life.