Category Archives: Health and wellness

The Switch Flipped

“You wouldn’t give up the bottle,” my dad said. “We tried everything. You’d scream bloody murder if any of us tried to take it from you. And then, one night…” His eyes twinkled mischievously. I loved this about my dad’s … Continue reading

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Earned Smiles Only

“A lot of times, the world wants the smile of a woman, especially black women…and I wanted to make sure everyone she comes across in this show has to earn her smile. You’re not going to just get it.” ~ … Continue reading

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Tapping My Way Home

Ooooooooo, Roxy Roller. When I hear those lyrics in my mind, I am transported to my friend Tania’s basement in the late 1970’s. Her parents had not finished their basement, so the plywood floors became our roller rink. We cranked … Continue reading

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Two Cats: This is not about cats

I have two cats, Serenity and Ripley. They are sisters, from the litter I fostered five years ago. These two cats have been with me since they were five weeks old. Their lives have been identical, but they are not. … Continue reading

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Letters to Myself: Give Up on Your Goals

Dear Kristene, You are a planner. You got that from your mom, your adopted mom, who would spend the better part of a year planning a summer vacation. Remember the stacks of folded clothes on the basement table, months before … Continue reading

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Letters to Myself: The Problem With Nice

Dear Kristene, At the risk of slaughtering your sacred cow, let’s talk about your dad. He was, as you know, awesome at so many things and you are perfectly right to admire his gentle, fun-loving, easy-going nature. He was hard … Continue reading

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Letters to Myself: This is Not a Competition

Dear Kristene, Stop grinding your teeth, drop your shoulders, take a deep breath. And, yes, I know you’ll do what I tell you and then forget ten minutes later but what you really need to know is that you’ve been … Continue reading

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It’s a Flying Shame

What are you ashamed of?   What words do you struggle to say aloud? What thoughts make you cringe? What truth about yourself would devastate you if it were made public? I was raised by a mother who, because of … Continue reading

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Fun and Games

On the evening of May 1, 1993, I knew I didn’t want to marry my first husband. In a car with two of our mutual friends, I drove around town and scoured the local bars to find my fiancé. He’d … Continue reading

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The Problem With Bees

When the first bee flies into your body, it’s no big deal. We’ve all experienced the occasional bee or two buzzing around in our chest cavity. Your pulse quickens a little, your muscles tighten, your breath becomes shallow as you … Continue reading

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