1912-2008 She would have been 100 today.  My grandmother was a wonderful woman.  I think of her so often and she inspires me to be a better person.   I read from this song at her memorial service, and it reminds me of her.   If you've ever heard it sung, you know how beautiful it…

There is an enduring tenderness in the love of a mother to a son that transcends all other affections of the heart. – Washington Irving , writer Happy 7th Birthday to my one and only son...Thomas Clark Spater...I love you!

With school fast approaching, I've had Mr. Hasan on my mind. Bob Hasan was the school principal at Nayatt School, and he was practically a celebrity around town. He stood over six feet tall, and naturally was always dressed in a suit. He was handsome, with salt and peppered hair and deep…

I am, without question, my own worst enemy. I have wasted countless hours judging myself, scolding myself, criticizing myself, and wishing I had done or said something differently. I can be impulsive, harsh, crass, and bold. The truth is, I am fine with it 90% of the time. I refuse to simply vote "present" in…

I recently read that girls and boys begin to feel the stirrings of hormonal changes at age 8. This is typically manifested via mood swings or just feeling more emotional than usual. I definitely sense this happening with my 8 year-old, and lately I've felt overcome with gratitude towards my friend A., who encouraged me…

I adore this child. She is truly her mother's daughter in the good, bad, and (sometimes) very ugly ways that she exists. Her line of the weekend takes the prize: "Mom, next time we move, we should get a 5-bedroom house." Pause from me. "Why's that, honey?" "So you and dad don't have to share a room…