She was just a little pup when I first saw her - shaggy, dirty, a curly mess with mostly hidden eyes. She introduced herself by leaping into my lap, and giving me her tummy to rub. In many ways, it was love at first sight. Well, for her at least - she was immediately devoted, affectionate -- at home in my presence, comforted by my touch. Me? I'd never wanted a pet, never thought I could have one [asthmatic, I - allergic to EVERYthing]. I'd allowed my kids to have dogs... but

I remember a classic movie once upon a time, and the river was a powerful symbol of continuity, change, unfathomable power, and unimaginable depths of mystery and intrigue. Not long after viewing it, I visited my Mom - far away from my (then) Arizona home... and discovered an equally fascinating metaphor for her life, and possibly ours - her gardens. Before going on -- I must state the obvious -- gardens cannot exist without rivers. One feeds the other - directly or indirectl

Yes... I left Facebook. I'll end my Instagram account soon too. Lots of reasons, but essentially, a company [FB] that can track EVERY web-based interaction while you're on FB, then create a user profile... and then allow that information to be sold to groups intending to influence targeted profiles [they looked at education level, geographic region, religious/political affiliation, and "site visitation tendencies"] of members of the U.S. electorate... deserves my condemnatio

Days here... have a way of startling you... and it's all because of ... contrast. I remember younger days, when every morning was slightly; challenging. Days in Canada in my teens when the temp outside was -30F... a chilling walk to school. In Kentucky, the March rains might be torrential enough to make you wonder if a bus - or a boat - would take you to school. And in Arizona... stepping outside was just a reminder of the slightly hotter oven you experienced the night before