Tell Me Something Lovely.

I tried winter sowing native flower seeds for the first time this winter in big plastic bins. THE LITTLE SEEDS ARE STARTING TO GERMINATE AND COME UP! My 4 and 7 year olds come lift the lids and check the bins every morning with me. I love that I can see myself writing who I am in their memories – a gardener, a nature lover, a mom who helped them notice small miracles around them <3

this… https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2380388085706516 so sweet <3 <3

This weekend, my husband and I went on a home tour. Toward the end of the tour, the group piled out of the bus, took our shoes off on the porch and then opened the door and went in. Inside, we found a homeowner confronted by 50 shoeless strangers she wasn’t expecting!

The real house was two doors down and we just came across someone with a modern house and an unlocked front door,

Our cat, who waited for my husband and me to come home on Saturday night. He sits there like a statue, and when we come closer, he just falls over to get his belly scritches. He is such a sweetheart. The roses are in full bloom here in San Jose! It’s such a treat on my evening walks. Thinking about death: I sometimes think what my legacy will be, what remains of me one day. I started writing down little snippets of memory from my childhood and youth, so that perhaps my children can read who I was before them one day.

Fellow bedtime death-thinker here! As for something lovely: one of our parkway trees died last year, and just last week a sapling was planted in the open space. The village sent us a postcard with information about our new “neighbor,” now I’m completely attached to this little tree and rooting so hard for her!

I’ve been thinking about death a lot lately too . . . My dad passed away the day after St Patricks day, in room 57 of an ER of the bay area. I got the call at 3 am and rushed to see him one last time. My mother, sister, and I, walked through the hospital halls, his corpse covered in an American flag while the staff stood by to pay their respects. At home later that day, my youngest son woke from his nap screaming that he couldn’t breathe and there was a bone in his chest. I rushed him to the hospital where we were admitted to room 57 of the ER. I believe that was my dad saying, I’m still here and I’m still with you. My littlest son is doing fine now, just missing grandpa’s pancakes, and “how he would always let me help to make them”

A mom friend was sharing what she really appreciates about one of my kids (who is not always appreciated especially by one parent in his class) and it was so lovely to see him through her eyes. I adore my kids and it’s fun to share that.

One of the loveliest things in my world these days is the Artemis II mission! Last year, I interviewed (but ultimately wasn’t selected) for the astronaut office, and the thing is, all that joy and excellence and being fantastic humans was on full display in the interview. So, on top of this being a long term career goal, I’ve also spent the last year and a half being so hopeful for these Artemis missions! It’s been beautiful to see how many people are now “in” on dream and the excitement. I’ll apply again the next time they recruit a new class, so there’s still a (very outside) chance I’ll get to serve in the future.

Yesterday, after putting the trash cans at the curb, my neighbor called out to me. I walked over and he said that he and his family had seen my 15-year old daughter on Saturday in the high school musical. “She really stood out – she was so expressive and really went full out.” When I came back inside, I shared the compliment with her and added that it is one of life’s sweetest gifts to witness others loving your children.

Hi- death doula here…. kinda in the news since Nicole Kidman decided to join our tribe…. Happy to help anyone process their thoughts/feelings/ ideas/fears/experiences related to the end of life stuff. Its all around us and lovely in the most honest way that toddlers are their own truest selves. Please feel all the feels and get support for them however it works best – With care- L

I came home last week to find my dog on the roof of my house. She’s a darling but adventurous rescue dog who found her way out of a second story window. And couldn’t find her way back in.

Re death: I lost my mom and mother-in-law less than a year apart and during my pregnancy with my son. I have a fantastic therapist (thank goodness) and we met to mentally prep for labor and delivery. We did some exercises in, I thought at the time, kind of imagining my mom and MIL in the room supporting me, drawing on the strength of their love for me and their own experiences with birth. So that rather than feeling this gaping hole of “I don’t have moms, I’m doing this without a mom,” it was metaphorically like, nah I’ve got moms in my corner.

Well, friends, cosmic joke was on me because while laboring and delivering my baby it literally felt like they were in the room with me. The experience rewrote my entire understanding of time and of death.

Also, when I’m unbound from the human experience of time, my mom and I are totally gonna go hold lambs together in Ireland. Would be right up her alley.

After an admitted sleepless night, my husband asked what keeps me up at night? I replied, “3M”. He looked at me incredulously and asked, “The company?” “No dearly beloved super snorer can sleep through anything husband and father of our only child, tis’ Marriage, Motherhood and Mortality.” So yesssssss Joanna. I get it:). And I try to focus on how grateful I am to perseverate on the first two. And gaaaahhh. Billy Collins stirs/sums it all up soooo beautifully! Thank you so much for this thoughtful and thought provoking post and blog:)

Those poems! Be still, my heart. Yes, I have been thinking about death lately. I’ve become spiritual in my 40s and the thought of being separated from my kid is almost too much to bare, but I think we come from some great consciousness where our energy will return after we die and that brings me great comfort.
I’ve been focusing on putting positive energy out into the world and I see joy and love everywhere. I threw a repair fair + clothing swap in my neighborhood last weekend and I was floating with happiness. 15 people volunteered to fix things and we had a huge turn out. People were delighted to have their things fixed and the fixers loved mending and repairing. I also got some really cute clothes at the clothing swap.
My seven year old started breakdancing classes two weeks ago and watching him practice is such a mood boost! We both share a deep love of dancing and I’m thrilled he’s found a style that allows him to express his inner light.
This weekend I went to the desert with my husband for some bonding time. So much was in bloom. As we approached the desert, it was all brown and gray and tan, but up close was a kaleidoscope of colors! The yellows, the neon pinks and greens, the magentas. It was a feast for my eyes. I realized all these flowers are solutions to the seemingly impossible task of surviving in the desert and it was truly inspiring. We booked a camp spot on Hipcamp and ended up in this magical desert oasis with a pool/hot tub, shared outdoor kitchen, and insane living room inside what looked like an airplane hanger. I didn’t realize we had access to all of the shared spaces with just our tent camping spot and I could not get over the unexpected luxury. At the pool, we met and hung out with two 20-somethings who had been college roommates and now lived on opposites sides of California and met up every couple of months and hearing their Gen Z perspective was really cool. I don’t have many 20-something friends and I’d love more. What a cool generation. On our way back to LA, we stopped in a cute boutique where I found a kelly green “Big Salad” hat (confirmed by Jo in a different post that it’s an unofficial hat) and I immediately texted my best friend a photo of me wearing it because she got me a subscription to Big Salad for my birthday last year and she has a hat in the exact same shade of green. So, so much to be grateful for, including this kind, funny, welcoming online community that helps keep me a little bit sane.