One year not long ago, I resolved that every day I’d write down or photograph a reason to love Phoenix. Another, to quit complaining about the heat. The first worked better than the second, though after each I resolved to quit resolving. Then I passed a display in my favorite nail salon and made one […]
I was collapsed on the couch yesterday, surveying the holiday damage — the game parts on the floor, the containers of sparkly nail polish spilling out of the bin, the candy wrappers and piles of pine needles — when I noticed one element still standing proud, tall and unmarred, a contrast to the teetering candles […]
In an effort to stick to some sort of budget and keep things lively, I dubbed this year “Thrift Store Christmas.” All that meant, in the end, was that I spent a lot of time in Goodwill buying Pyrex and crystal bowls I used as cactus planters, trimmed with vintage plastic Christmas deer and Santas […]
Fifth grade isn’t quite coming to a close, but I did get melancholy last night, realizing I was wrapping teacher (and principal/therapist/aide/former teacher/office staff) gifts for this school for the last time. It’s been a nice run, all things considered. Sophie has grown up at this sweet, little neighborhood public elementary school, and so have […]
Over the years, I’ve written a bit about Sophie’s fashion choices. Namely that I want to be the one making them — that a kid with Down syndrome has enough challenges without a tacky outfit (or a top hat, or overalls, or a sailor suit, or — okay, I’ll stop). See also: Thoughts on Overalls […]
I’m typically the biggest fan of the seasonal sounds, but I’ve got to say, if I hear that Wham song one more time I’m going to freak out and tiny flocked Santas and 15 batches of sugar cookie dough will go flying. (Don’t ask.) So I’m geeking out and making a Christmas mix, which is […]
This past weekend, Sophie performed onstage at the Herberger Theater in downtown Phoenix for the third year in a row. The production is Snow Queen and as far as I know, Sophie’s the only kid with special needs (definitely the only one with Down syndrome) who’s ever been in this show, sort of a Nutcracker […]
I know I shouldn’t let myself go there, but I can’t help it. I do it every time. My sister and her family were in town from Denver for the Thanksgivukkah Palooza last week — and we had a blast. My sister and I were never close, growing up, and we didn’t have cousins we […]
This semester, Sophie’s older sister, Annabelle, was asked to write a “This I Believe” style essay for her seventh grade English class. Here’s hers; it’s about Detour, a local theater company. Annabelle and Sophie were part of the cast of “South Pacific” in June 2012. I Believe in Art Art is for everybody. The […]
