Doundounba; a dance I’ve always resisted.  At this evening’s dance class, we did Doundounba.  Pam, our gifted dance teacher reminded us that it is a dance from the Mande people of Guinee.  It’s a dance traditionally done by men and it’s a dance of great strength.  I also remember that if there’s a celebration, Doundounba…

Peepers.  They mark the passage of time for me.  We haven’t had a real winter this year.  And though spring has not officially hit, the sound of the peepers has always been a big landmark. I did smile inside and out when I heard them today. Now, this bit about time; it is so elusive. …

May 25, 2015 Dear Maya, We recently participated in the Mothering Daughtering workshops twice this month; once as assistants for the preteens and once as guest participants for the teens.  On the weekend that we were guests, we decided to branch out a little bit.  We did for ourselves some non-workshop related things during the…

This evening after work, I visited my dad.  He’s 95 years old and lives in a nursing home.  Driving home, I was thinking of Maya’s connection with Pop.  Though Maya got her goofiness and silliness from her dad, I believe she got much of her wit and love for puns from my dad. When Maya…

May 6, 2012 Dear Maya, There are some days that it seems like your entire world is falling apart.  You had one of those yesterday.  Not enough sleep, woes at school, trouble with Adin, not getting your choice of haircut, being embarrassed and/or annoyed with/by me and on and on.  At these times, life is…

August 31, 2011 birthday eve (post Hurricane Irene) Sweetest Maya Saying farewell to ten!  It’s been quite a year and quite a month.  Lots to report, but no time now.  Amidst a power outage, no electric, no lights, no water, no phone.  A bit challenging but all is well.  Just landed from Europe last week…

December 2006 Dear Maya, Your life significantly changed a week ago yesterday.  I heard a meowing sound outside the kitchen as I was doing the dishes.  I called daddy to check on Merlin, as he usually doesn’t cry outside.  It wasn’t Merlin at all.  It was a skinny little kitten with matted fur, meowing its…

My dear friend Susan, sent me a message, “Are you enjoying your stay in Mexico?” “The simple answer,” I told her, “is yes. It is more complicated though.” Our family planned this trip last year. We have been gifted with traveling internationally since Adin and Maya were young. They’ve seen much of the world and…

Support has come in so many ways.  One way that I’ve been uplifted has been by saying the mourner’s kaddish each week.  At times, I go to a congregation, but most often, my dear friend Linda, gathers a minyan (a group of at least ten people) to recite the mourner’s kaddish with me.  It was…

When we chose the name, Maya, for our daughter, we learned of many derivations.  From the Hebrew, Maya is related to water.  In Greek, it means mother and in Mexico, we know of the Mayan people.  The Hindu Maya has to do with the illusion before enlightenment.  But the new Maya for me is from…