A Return to Peace Part 2 — What are you thinking about? What do you mean you don’t know? You are the only one who knows. Either you are unwilling to share it with me or afraid to admit the truth. Which one is it? Both! Where does that leave us? Don’t answer that. We’ve been down…

Saying goodbye to the big cheese — The thought of you drives me wild. On cold gray days, I imagine struggling close, deep in the bed covers, inhaling your aroma and salivating. Waiting in anticipation. You lay there, a gorgeous temptress, as I prepare to devour you one nibble and bite at a time. My faithful love…

Recovery takes longer than I thought The world got worse every day. Before long, the threat of it crashing down on me kept me in bed. If I was already parallel to the ground, the world’s weight could not hurt me much more. I lay there and watched the world…

Our internal navigation system I wish there were a life navigation system on our phones, tablets, or laptops. That way, we would know when to make decisions that completely change our direction toward living better lives. “Poor decision warning, say no to people pleasing. …

On the ranch… — The serenade of upward and downward inflections of, “Moo,” and the occasional cattle bell awakened me from a restful sleep. The cattle grazed on grass kept green by irrigated water. At the same time, calves played together like carefree puppies chasing their tails. Outside the window, beyond the deck, Ted…

Finding an unexpected friend My neighbor and his two Cane Corsos approached me during my morning walk. The male was a massive beast that would tower over me if it stood on its hind legs. The female was smaller but pure muscle and visibly strong. Fear is a natural survival…

It is already within you I attended my first in-person African Brazilian dance class in over two years. The musicians played the djembe, dundun, and surdo, African drums. As I took in the music and allowed it to permeate throughout my body, my soul began to heal. Like the sunshine…