I was driving down to Papillion to visit my friend, her toddler, and her two-week-old. I had just had a fun photo shoot with a client who’s letting me borrow her camera, suggesting—insisting, actually—that I use it at my sister’s wedding. Then I’d gone to Target and picked out a gift for 7-year-old Elijah’s birthday,…

A lot of times when I start to feel overwhelmed, I’ll have this urge to lie on the ground. In the last several months of my last full-time job, I probably hit the carpet weekly. Just for a few minutes, while I regained a sense of hope. One Saturday during that difficult season, I was…

Excerpt from Mary Oliver’s “The Ponds” Still, what I want in my lifeis to be willingto be dazzled —to cast aside the weight of facts and maybe evento float a littleabove this difficult world.I want to believe I am looking into the white fire of a great mystery.I want to believe the imperfections are nothing…

Chris left the day before I did. I spent my final time on the West Coast with two lovely people, Sarah and Sebastian. They met in Peru, where Sebas was born. He has been in the States for a year now, and they’ve been married almost that long. I loved seeing his excitement about things…

I made it back into the city of touchdown and found my way to the hostel Christina and I would stay at for the next four days. I had a few hours before I’d pick her up from the airport, so I did some laundry. I ate in my room, which isn’t allowed. But they…

My drive back to San Francisco was foggy. Now, for my friends who haven’t been to the west coast, let me clarify. What we’re dealing with is like the fog that makes Illinois schools postpone regional basketball games — only worse. You know the magic carpet ride in Aladdin? While they’re singing “A Whole New…

I can’t imagine a better place on earth to go to get perspective. Hiking in the Redwoods, you realize just how tiny you are. The ridges in the bark as big as your hand. You have an appreciation for time. These trees are centuries older than you. How short must your days seem to them.…

The next morning, I was off again!This time I took the coast the whole way. It was breathtaking. Even in fog. I stayed at two motels on my way back to San Francisco. My excuse is that is was rainy, rainy. I stopped at a picnic area on the beach for lunch one day and…

I made it to Seattle. In perfect timing to meet up with Scottie and celebrate the day of his birth — actually one hour early. I wandered downtown. I was wearing my dad’s camo coat because it was raining — and alternating with SNOW. (Thanks, Seattle.) I felt like people were staring at me and…