DADsquared℠

photo: AwakeningTimes I can't remember when it happened, when I stop expecting to see my father.  I remember far away moments, looking out into an audience or across a room or at either side of friends and family members only to see a vacant seat. I remember distant conversations with my mom finding excuse after excuse for him. He tried honey,  he would have,  he really wanted to be here,  he’ll make it up to you,  he must have gotten tied up,  you know how busy daddy is and on and on.  It’s funny how much we believe those little white lies, how much we need to believe them, right?  So much so that each one comforts you long enough until the next one is required by our little forming brains and hearts.  Long enough to stretch out time and space.  Long enough that you no longer really believe them but still want to hear them and then long enough tha...

"The following is a story I shared with a group of wonderful people. I share it here today and with you in the hope that even just one person sees themselves reflected in the words and perhaps finds some healing and some peace." Henry A  few  evenings ago, while tucking my youngest into bed we fell deep into one of those beautifully special and intimate conversations, you all know or remember those talks with your kids, in the dark, snuggled under blankets, when all the world feels fast asleep and nothing but nothing bad could possibly penetrate that little sacred space right? As we lay there, he asked me to tell him the story, yet again, about the man I had spoken about in my *Spiritual Odyssey at our UU Fellowship. I've  also been given permission to share this with you all. Let me back track for just a moment. While writing my talk I had to dig deep into my past and all the how’s and whys and who’s that I had encountered on my journey...

So I will be turning 56 this coming Fall. I can hardly believe it.  Quite honestly I have never really felt my age. I often joke that the reason why my marriage is so successful, despite our 13 year difference in age, is that my husband is so mature and I, well not so much. The past few years, as some of you know, have been difficult. Unlike years gone by I never noticed the changes in my face but when I hit 50 I started to become so much more aware of my skin. I was also keenly aware that I had not been caring for myself as I once did. Kids do that to us right? Not enough sleep, stress, unhealthy diets and on and on. Well, last year I decided to do something about it. Nothing grand nor earth shattering. Nothing that required a moving truck, scalpel or a divorce lawyer. It was a tiny move that has changed my life. Mad Hippie Love... Not this kind, But rather this kind... Yes, I changed my skin ca...

I am a man of deep self reflection, I often pause, contemplate and when able, I try to correct. I believe that the road to self awareness and discovery requires many moments spent looking into your own eyes and being prepared to embrace what you see. Lately I have been all to often disappointed with the man that looks back at me. He was always kindhearted, spirited, loving and had a amazing sense of humor. He was the guy you turned to when things were tough and the first guy you would call when it was time for a celebration. He was that  go to  fellow that would never let you down. But now?  Now I barely trust him to make it through a day unscathed. I don't trust him with my own secrets and I certainly would not entrust him with anything you hold too dear. Over the past 4 years I have been dealing with depression, apparently somewhat severe. It is so easy to think that the root of your sadness is any one of a million things that bom...

devastation Some of you have followed our adoption journey. You watched or read from the shadows as our little family of three grew to become four. A little back story for our new friends. My husband and I adopted our Ben at birth. We were living in South Florida at the time. He came into this world in October of 2011, almost exactly two years after we were married in Boston, MA. I honestly can't look back on my life and remember a more happy time, perhaps our wedding day but that's a close call. There are definitely pressures and fears that creep into most all adoption stories, especially when your a same gender couple, the year is 2010, the birth-mother has troubles and the nation had yet to legally recognize our family. But all of those scary thoughts and memories drifted away with each of his beautiful smiles and laughs. They took flight at each and every amazing milestone. They never stood a chance with each year that we celebrated anoth...