Following the ADHD Breadcrumbs
Clues appeared early. Throughout my life I’ve been told I’m too sensitive, too needy, too talkative, too direct. I have always been sensitive to bright light, loud sounds, scratchy fabrics, the sound of people chewing or clicking pens. I’ve often struggled with sleep,...
Tribute to Madeline Sharples
I noticed her immediately, a pretty dark-haired woman, beautifully put together. We took turns introducing ourselves sitting in a circle of writers at Esalen for a workshop called “Writing Our Lives.” When it was her turn, she spoke of poems she was writing about her...
In Honor of Maya
Just as trees begin to leaf, and California poppies dot the hillsides, the anniversary of my daughter’s death occurs. It’s been 34 years since Maya was declared brain dead on April 6, 1992. She was 19, a gifted young woman on the cusp of a bright future. This year,...
The Year of the Yang Fire Horse
A new lunar year dawned with the new moon on February 17. The Chinese Year of the Yang Fire Horse brings a “wildfire energy” that can lead to dramatic changes and potential breakthroughs. “If ever there was a year to be bold, this is it,” according to Gaela Morrison,...
A Healing Pause
During the holidays I took a healing pause. It’s difficult to tap the brakes during a book launch, yet slowing down is exactly what I needed. Disconnected: Portrait of a Neurodiverse Marriage consumed my attention as I did events, appeared as a guest on podcasts, and...
Life After Neurodiverse Love
Life after neurodiverse love is like being in the eye of the hurricane. My life is whirling at warp speed but I'm standing at the still center. If you know the feeling, then you’ll recognize the moment where I find myself now. I'm on the threshold of a new life after...
A Hard Look at Love
My new book takes a hard look at love. If your partner is neurodivergent, you have special challenges to overcome. My new memoir, forthcoming from Vine Leaves Press in November, is an unflinching exploration of love on the autism spectrum. When I began writing my book...
Maya’s Bright Spirit
On April 1, my daughter Maya went skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountains. She was 19, home on spring break from community college. She went to a resort outside of Truckee with her friends for a day of fun. It was 1992. When she arrived home early that evening, I had...
Peace Begins with Me
“Keep fresh before me the moments of my high resolve.” –Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman What is your intention for 2024? I like to choose a word for the year ahead that sums up my intention. This year my word is “Peace.” The challenge I've set for myself is to let inner peace...
Beginning Over
These days, I watch the world go by from a different window. I mean that literally as well as figuratively. I’ve moved to the west side of Rossmoor, perched on a hillside with a view of Mt. Diablo, a grassy common space dotted with fruit trees, and a giant beech tree...
