Heritage

The Lerner book, Dancing with Anger, speaks of relationship patterns that we repeat with partners, co-workers, friends, parents, and children. She suggests that we take time to examine the modeled behaviors that our parents presented for us. She encourages us to speak with…

Troll

One of the great joys of depression is the games it plays with you.  Let’s personify it for just a moment.  Envision it not unlike the oft-portrayed little angel and devil shoulder dwellers, but more forest troll that has nested the wilds of your hair.…

Financial Fences

If there is a difference that stood out from the first between Sandy and I, it was our experience with wealth, or in my case, the lack of it.  Sandy parents were clinicians.  Of course, they were not in private practice, instead they…

Bookshelves

I work in Information Technology at a university.  I acquired this position shortly after finishing a Master’s degree in Information Science with an emphasis on human computer interaction.  From about 1995 until 2009, I leveraged technological skills in a variety of forms.  It…

Erosion

There are few thing that I remember from my K-8 years, certainly the bulk of it is experiential rather than academic, but there are a couple of items that stand out. Truly aha, I’m in awe of that fact, I can’t help but…

Mea Culpa

I have always had a tendency to blame myself.  The words, ‘I’m so sorry’ slide so easily from between my teeth.  My first assumption when something has gone awry is to trace through all of my actions and choices to find the root…

Lifelines

For weeks, I have been surviving the daily anxiety attacks or depressive drops, but it was not until today that I realized how critical to that survival having an open and immediate line of communication to someone who understands really is.   Moments,…

Purge

The need to purge and start fresh is high right now.  The fact that I haven’t already placed all of our stuff out on the front lawn for folks to take is an indication that some combination of medication, exercise, therapy and general…

Debris field

A few years ago my 10 year old son had to write his first biographical research report.  I do not recall if he chose Robert Ballard or if Ballard was assigned to him, but I jumped into the exercise supplying enthusiasm for his shortfall of it.  Ballard,…

Separation of state and self

As I wrap up the day at work, I recognize that I need to be a Mom again soon.  The switch of roles exhausts me. Earlier today I thought that being divorced with alternating custody rights has one side benefit. It crafts a strong delineation between when you…