Category Archives: aging

Blue

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

The sparkling blue of Lake Michigan, in the summer sun, with a brisk breeze is enticing and inviting, and as I remembered that particular shade, I recalled the time our rental catamaran flung us into those blue depths. I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, experience | 1 Comment

Lessons from the “boot”

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Five weeks ago, I had surgery to repair a torn peroneal tendon and to fix a long-standing stress fracture in my left metatarsal. Running and my unique physiology have contributed to the damage, and I had similar (though less significant) … Continue reading →

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Prom, 1984

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

In 1984, I was a senior in high school, and prom was looming on the horizon.  Yes, I was planning to go to college (at least until my mom suggested in frustration that I stay home, marry Terry, and have … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, experience, family, motherhood | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

“oh antic God” By Lucille Clifton

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

oh antic God return to me my mother in her thirties leaned across the front porch the huge pillow of her breasts pressing against the rail summoning me in for bed. I am almost the dead woman’s age times two. … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, family, loss, motherhood | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Kin in the kitchen

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Thanks to Hanna for the inspiration — her A to Z holiday photo montage kicked my brain into gear. My cousin and his mom (that makes her my aunt) visited us today, and as we sat around the dinner table, … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, community, connection, family, holidays, memory, nostalgia, tradition | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Dear diary: confessions of an Eighties teenager

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

My high school best friend just discovered she kept a diary during two years of our high school time. My friend’s mom found the diary in her attic recently. We had dinner the other night and she pulled out the … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, experience, friends, growth, lessons, memory, nostalgia, stories, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A room of her own — a mother-in-law’s pad

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

In a cosmic coincidence, on the 22nd anniversary of my mom’s death, I went apartment hunting for my mother-in-law in order to give her some options for her life.  My mother-in-law lives outside Boston and has been somewhat isolated there, … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, connection, family, memory, writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

On aging: bifocals, or a kick in the teeth?

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

When I told my colleague that I had to get bifocals, he laughed, “Wow, that’s a kick in the teeth.” I wondered, was it really that bad to need bifocals at 44? Why is aging in our culture perceived with … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, expectations, growth, memory, motherhood, running, transformation, writing | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Namesake

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

My friend, Jan, wrote a story about her name that made me wonder, what’s up with my name?  In What’s in a Name I addressed my penchant for changing my names, but not the how and why of my name. … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, connection, dreams, genes, identity, memory, names | 2 Comments

On running

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

For most of my life, I ran either the Chicago streets or most recently, the Chicago Lakefront Path. Running in Chicago is exhilarating: the lake path is used by runners, walkers, and bikers and is well traveled.  Running from Hyde … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, connection, running, snow, transformation, winter | Tagged | 3 Comments