For the last month, I’ve been getting up between 5 and 6 am to feed Stella. I pull on a robe, fumble my feet into slippers and toddle down the steps, using my phone to light the way. Sometimes I prepare her food first and then go back upstairs to wake her up. The first week or so, she was reluctant, looking at me as if to say, “What is wrong with you? It’s not time to get up yet.” Now, she’s gradually adjusting to this new schedule, going outside for a quick pee and then comi

I often pick up one of those regional “style” magazines when we’re at the beach. They’re giveaways filled with splashy advertising along with a few articles of local interest and often include pages showing new or recently renovated multi-million dollar mansions nestled in secluded bayside coves or overlooking stunning ocean vistas. One of the houses in this month’s issue featured something called a “cocktail pool” which is a shallow swimming pool with a built-in table and ch

This week I got my annual mammogram which happened to fall, coincidentally, on the 46 th  anniversary of my mother’s death from the disease at age 58. My results were normal, thanks be to God, but I couldn’t help but think of her and how the world of healthcare has changed since she was diagnosed. I am proactive about my health and keep up with appointments, vaccines, and testing, but damn, mammograms make me so anxious. Because of my history, I have had my share of call-back