Category Archives: transformation

Reflection on one year of yoga

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Just about a year ago, I attended my first yoga class.  I did not really know what to expect, but as a long time runner and cyclist, felt like I could handle whatever challenge was thrown at me.  I did … Continue reading →

Posted in community, connection, experience, growth, transformation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Mid-life and mixing metaphors

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I teach and work closely with two 30-something year olds. And I envy their solidity, their self-assurance, their knowledge of themselves. I remember when I was a 30-something teacher; I knew that I had all the answers, that I had … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, lessons, transformation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Look, crocuses!

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Two bloggers that I follow wrote things today about stories — about the significance of stories and about how stories not only have the power to connect us, but also to provide us with comfort and escape when life’s disappointments … Continue reading →

Posted in connection, expectations, experience, loss, spring, stories, transformation | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Falling off the grid

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Since spring break started, I’ve fallen off the writing wagon.  Spring break has been a long time coming and now that it is here, well, it isn’t quite what I had expected, and the thoughts in my head have not … Continue reading →

Posted in expectations, experience, family, food, lessons, motherhood, transformation | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

A Tet party in five acts

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Act One: It’s 10:00 am in an apartment on the Southside of Chicago.  A family of four, mom, dad, two adopted Vietnamese four-year olds, prepares for a houseful of guests who want to celebrate Tet with them. The house has … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, community, connection, food, friends, holidays, memory, motherhood, Tet, tradition, transformation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Promises, promises or “political poetry”

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

One of the duties of a 7th grade teacher is to explain to students the importance of the Declaration of Independence. It is no easy task, complicated by the challenging language and lofty ideals, that even today leave readers with … Continue reading →

Posted in community, connection, education, identity, inspiration, language, lessons, poems, transformation | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

Tell me about your tattoo

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

One of the most memorable lessons of 7th grade is the “Interview and Experience” Project.  We assign students to identify, contact, interview and “experience” a slice of someone’s life. The person they choose needs to be different from them in … Continue reading →

Posted in art, connection, education, experience, growth, identity, inspiration, lessons, loss, memory, motherhood, scars, tattoo, transformation | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

(un)Blinded by race and class

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I still have not seen the beginning of The Blind Side, but I did manage to see enough of it to form strong opinions and to have a visceral reaction.  The more I thought about the movie, the less comfortable … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, community, connection, education, growth, race, transformation | Leave a comment

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