“I had some of that oatmeal you bought yesterday,” said Mom. I had went on a shopping spree for foods that would help manage her side effects and keep her body strong while she went through chemo for colon cancer. “It tastes like mud.” Two infusion cycles later taste change complaints, a common side effect Continue Reading

A few mornings ago I let my 82-year-old mother drive us over snow and ice to her chemotherapy treatment. Let me explain. I had been in the middle of an experiment last September-October, seeing if I could work while traveling abroad — God it seems indulgent now — when my sister Skyped to tell me Continue Reading

My Amsterdam map, by the end, was worn, speckled with inked arrows and circles and tram numbers, tearing a little along the folds. My London map, well, I didn’t have one.  In fact, other than letting my friends there know I was coming, I didn’t do a lick of touristy planning or research.  Maybe it Continue Reading

“Did you already booked your flight to London? My cat got very sick from traveling and she is not doing very well. I was wondering if I could move in my house on Monday instead of Wednesday.” It wasn’t an unwelcome request. After Bruges, I was thinking about what was left to explore in Amsterdam, Continue Reading

“What’s a ‘wijnbar’,” asked the lady of the couple in front of me on the sidewalk in Bruges, pronouncing “wijn” correctly, like “wine.” “It’s a wine bar,” said her husband flatly, like he could use a glass. Since I wouldn’t know my loved one’s surgery date until midweek, I kept my plans to visit Bruges, Continue Reading

I had just taken a bite out of my first bitterballen when he pinched my waist between his fingers and said, “But not too much! Ha ha ha!” It was my second expats function since coming to Amsterdam and would turn out to be my last. Not because of the guy, who wasn’t trying to Continue Reading

Juggling moments, minding cracks. Make the most of each moment. I get it, I’m a believer. Whether I’m doing something touristy or writing or nothing much at all, I’m trying to be fully present — taking in the sights, sounds, aromas, and being aware of my state of mind. One morning last week, for example, Continue Reading

As the shimmer dulls. Oh, that first of week of travel, when everything is shiny and new! Where did you go? Why have you forsaken me with unsexy laundry, which required downloading the English version PDF of the Samsung SWM 1200 washing machine? (Didn’t know Samsung made washers but now I know the symbols for Continue Reading

This little piggy went to market. Having polished off a new jar of Nutella (They’re small, right? The jars are small. It didn’t seem like much.), I am kind of a piggy and last sunny Saturday, my second in Amsterdam, I took myself to the Noordermkt. It’s like a farmer’s market. Some people say it’s Continue Reading