During the two weeks that I joined my son Colin in Africa, we spent two days in Kruger National Park. Upon first arriving, we took a brief evening tour of the park, but the more complete and much anticipated safari tour of the 20,000 sq. km refuge (the size of the Netherlands) began the next morning, at […]

In March, 1919, 15 years after I slipped into Cuba from Mexico, my husband and I legally sailed there on a six night cruise that included two Cuban cities— Cienfuegos and Havana. Entering legally at the Cienfuegos port wasn’t that different except, this time, I got a stamp in my passport instead of on a […]

In 2004, tourists in Havana were commonly accosted by a local who, to earn extra money, tried to steer them to certain businesses. The guy who zeroed-in on us was Michel, a 24 year-old who did not appear threatening, and promised he wasn’t selling anything. So, we listened to his pitch.  Michel pointed to a […]

In 2004, when President George W. Bush imposed fines up to $10,000 on Americans caught visiting Cuba, I was dismayed by our continued hardline approach to this neighboring country. I didn’t understand the logic of being allowed to visit Vietnam, where unspeakable atrocities occurred and thousands of American and Vietnamese soldiers and civilians died in […]

In our everyday life, we take chances all the time. We try a new brand of coffee or buy blue nail polish instead of the red. Some of us quit 9-5 jobs to start your own businesses. Others bring home the boy or girlfriend our parents will disapprove of, because he or she is the […]

Last week was the launch of the ebook version of THESE BOYS ARE KILLING ME. For 48 hours, the sale price was $1.00 US. I am thrilled and honored by the results. These Boys Are Killing Me became a best selling book in three countries (US, UK & Canada). It was also # 1 best […]

By 9/12, the day after America was attacked, I still hadn’t heard from my son Brennan who was in the Middle East, without a cell phone. He finally emailed later that day from Egypt and my relief was palpable. He told me he was fine and asked, “What kind of people would do such a […]

For some reason, this evocative photo of a heavy rainfall designing patterns on the lake reminds me of the TV commercial where a woman and child are about to take a bike ride when it suddenly begins to rain. I’ve always liked the optics of that ad (though I can’t begin to recall what it’s […]

Around 2014 or 2015, hoping to improve connectivity issues on my computer, I  dumped old documents and files. Among the clutter was a stash of email correspondence I’d saved from when my sons backpacked around the world through 37 countries on three continents. The oldest son left in April 2001. In August 2003, his brother […]