The last butterfly

  The yellow butterflies are gone. Itā€™s almost winter. I knew this was coming. I believe I saw the last one about a week ago. It was the day before Thanksgiving and I was out for a walk on a warm November day. I was thinking of Momā€¦and there she was. A yellow butterfly popped…

Me and Mom, Ireland

Trying not to forget

  Itā€™s been 6 months since my mom passed away. Sometimes it feels longer. It seems like so long since I have seen her dimpled smile, heard the sound of her voice, felt the warmth of her touch. Yet, in some ways it feels like yesterday that I was with her as she took her…

Home and itchy feet

  ā€œThis is ho-o-o-ome. Ho-o-o-ome.ā€ My friend, Jenny, who has a lovely voice, is singing along with Sheryl Crow. Yes, this is home, I think as we drive through the winding mountain roads on our way back to Golden. Itā€™s a gorgeous early autumn day and Iā€™m visiting. I used to live here, in Colorado.…

Going home

  Home. Itā€™s where the heart is. Thereā€™s no place like it. For me, itā€™s been a confusing word over the past 4 1/2 years. Iā€™ve written about not feeling at home in Cincinnati (where I currently live and where I am from) and feeling more at home out there in the world. Iā€™ve talked…