For the past two weeks, the heavens have fractured, spilling forth a deluge of rain. Like a faulty spigot, some days the water gushed torrentially and other days the water slowed to a steady dripping. The temperature, as if confused like the rest of us, rose and dropped randomly according to its whim. But the … Continue reading Waiting for the Rain to end
Holding Up
Photo by Betsy Biddle Lange While vacationing in the Smokey Mountains one Autumn, I happened across a rock formation similar to the one pictured. Both magnificent and terrifying in sheer size, the onyx colored monolith dominated the median of a boulevard. Impervious to the stream of tiny cars flitting like moths around a porch light, … Continue reading Holding Up
Packing Light
As a social worker, I attend several conferences a year. Bowing to an underlying fear of not having the right outfit, I used to grossly over-pack.. For example, if I were attending a two day conference, my suitcase would likely contain: Dresses for 2 days; Pants for 2 days in case It rained or was … Continue reading Packing Light
One Starfish at a Time
Beverly was only hours old when her mother plodded into the emergency room: sick, tired and covered in sweat. Like a cobbled horse, she limped towards the triage nurse whose eyes were focused on the clipboard in her hands. "Please" The whisper, fierce with pain, caught the nurse's attention. Nurse Anna put down the clipboard … Continue reading One Starfish at a Time
Ole Fish Eyes
When I was 15 and 16, my family lived on the Bayou in Lacombe, Louisiana, across the lake from New Orleans. Besides my human family we had a Irish Setter named Hot Dog (my little brother named him) and two ducks: Fritz and Grits (my dad named them). Living on the water was fun, especially … Continue reading Ole Fish Eyes
Losing my Sister
The Isle of Capri sits off the coast of Italy, about ankle high to the big boot. The Island is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples. When we visited, my family had to take a hydrafoil to get there. It is only 4 … Continue reading Losing my Sister
Forming a Tribe
A lesson I learned over 30 years ago still rings true today. We need to belong. We need a tribe. We need others to help us get through the hard things in life. We were not meant to struggle alone. High School is hard. Belonging to a tribe helps us to navigate through, not only … Continue reading Forming a Tribe
Bethioua and the Ugly American
When I was 18 years old I spent the second of two summers in Bethioua, Algeria with my parents. The first summer I enjoyed immensely, but my newly found independence (being 18 and all) coupled with my false sense of entitlement contributed to the disaster that was my second summer. In Bethioua, my parents lived … Continue reading Bethioua and the Ugly American
The Parable
Becoming a social worker was not the plan I had for my life. As I have often said, I backed into the career totally blind to the mission of Child Welfare. I might not have ever found my calling had not DHS been the only agency hiring. Graduating college as an English major, my choices … Continue reading The Parable
Finding your courage
What are you afraid of? What are your nightmares made of? I have the normal garden variety fears...snakes, spiders, tornados...King Kong (Dont judge me, he was very scary!). But one of my biggest fears involves an insect. The giant grasshopper. I remember one summer vividly, the horrifying images etched into my brain. My family had … Continue reading Finding your courage
Water for Camels 