love

27 08, 2014

This hurts so much

By |2023-02-06T23:47:44+00:00August 27, 2014|puppy love|Comments Off on This hurts so much

My dog is dying. There, I wrote it. As I type, with tears running down my face, the words blurring in front of my eyes, Oreo my beloved 15 1/2 year old mutt is losing his battle with congestive heart disease.He's now suffering from what the vet thinks is an infection. He coughs constantly. But he still smiles, and wags his tail. He is eating and even barks a bit when somebody comes to the door. Right now, he's asleep under my desk. Someday soon we're going to be faced with the end. I really can't imagine not having him by my side. His constant, overly protective presence has been a part of our family since my youngest child was three. My daughter picked Oreo out at the pet store, during a "just looking" visit. Well, truth be told, I sort of leaned her in [...]

10 07, 2012

Real You: Passages

By |2023-02-07T00:05:27+00:00July 10, 2012|family members, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Passages

My father-in-law, Harley E. Rouda Sr., died last Thursday. He lived a great life, accomplished so much, raised four kids, started a business that still survives today and, he loved to laugh. What's more, he was a trailblazer who welcomed women into management positions in the real estate industry long before most others. My husband and his dad were incredibly close - a type of bond you hope for between a father and son, a kid and a parent. But you know what else? He also was incredibly close to my children. He was a great grandfather to our four kids. Present, loving, giving, teasing, laughing. He was there and they knew it. Unfortunately, my children were too young to remember their great grandparents before they died. So this, their beloved grandpa was the first person they loved who passed away. First funeral. First memorial service. [...]

12 07, 2011

Real You: Chronicles of the travelling Wedding Plant

By |2023-02-07T00:09:15+00:00July 12, 2011|book tour, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Real You: Chronicles of the travelling Wedding Plant

An added benefit of my recent almost two-week long Here, Home, Hope Book Tour was a stop back "home", in Columbus, Ohio. During a book signing at Loot, a great shop in happening Short North retail and cultural district, I was reunited with my Wedding Plant. One of my best friends, Kathy, had been watching over my precious spider plant for the two years since we'd moved to California. As she wiped a tear and handed over the 22-year-old spider plant, which was flourishing under her care, she said, "It's the last piece of you I have here. I'm really attached to her." (Kathy is on the right with my other friend Molly.) It's easy to grow attached the The Wedding Plant, as countless folks have during the book tour. Here is its story: The wedding plant originated as a tiny spider plant that was part [...]

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