I certainly didn’t want to be the one to tell him.      When a friend came home with his adorable gray fur ball of fun seven years ago, I did all the things a fellow dog lover does to welcome a new pet lover into our tribe.      Well, almost all the things.      Deliver a basket full of puppy toys: check.      Coo, snuggle, and make a big deal over that pink puppy belly: check.      Offer up my two cents on housebreaking, training, dog parks: check, check, check.      Purpose ..read more

It’s the kind of love you root for.      You know that top notch person you adore who just hasn’t found her person?      That was the story with an old friend and work colleague of mine.      The beauty of social media as we lived in different cities and took different career paths meant I could follow along as she found love later in life.      This friend’s new husband clearly adored her. That was evident from the photos and adventures she shared. There was just this one thing What wasn’t as shared was that this ..read more

I spoke too fast.      Maybe I was simply defensive.      Husband was so sure the answer was, “Yes.” I wouldn’t be surprised to discover the family was placing bets on the “when?”      The question was simple.      “Did you cry?”      Who, me? I resemble that reputation Me, who has the reputation in this family of being the crier?      Especially at the milestones.      Like the time I cried when I took our daughters to get their first passports when they ..read more

I knew the answer to the question.      And, I knew it was best to not answer it.      At least not 100% truthfully.      This is a story about what I’ve learned about questions and marriage.      I’ve made a 180-degree pivot in my views.      Let me start by explaining that the foundation of our entire marriage is based on questions.      Before Husband and I got married we went through a book of 289 questions prompting us to talk about everything from money to politics to f ..read more

The things you learn about your friends on social media.      I’ll give this friend the benefit of the doubt.   I don’t think he meant to brag.      Yet, there he was on Facebook talking about how his parents died as the richest people in the world.      He had video evidence, as well.      It shows his 90-something father, his mother, and other members of their family enjoying their riches.      His brother even makes a cameo appearance, giving a prime opportunity for me to judge. “In ..read more