Have you noticed the rush of complaints at the holiday season? It starts with people moaning about joining the family on Thanksgiving, and it continues. What gives? I know the holidays are hard on people, expectations and all that, but I always thought holidays were hard on those of us who didn’t have families to […]
family rituals
What a Multi-Species Family Looks Like
Are You Stuck? Or Living a Bald Eagle Life?
(c) Gary R. Jones If life were easy we wouldn’t get stuck. Or laugh. It’s all in our perspective. Which reminds me of the bald eagles who share our beach with us. I love these birds, and I sometimes think it would fun to be one. And then I think: “raw fish.” Eww. Yes, […]
Walking the Birthday Walk with Dogs
When you live the human-animal bond, you celebrate birthdays with your multi-species family. Even when the birthday in question is yours and you’re getting older (it happens yearly). Okay, we were celebrating my birthday this time. But it’s in the dead of winter, after Christmas, before spring. In Seattle. Pretty much the weather sucks. Does […]
Thanksgiving: What We Should Really Be Grateful For
I was thinking, what should I be grateful for this Thanksgiving? Then I saw this silly article, again, and I knew. I’m grateful for common sense and for refusing fear. This article, written by Joan Raymond and updated 1-25-11 at Pet Health on msnbc.com, suggests sleeping with our animals can give us diseases. Okay, it’s […]
(Not) Meowing for Mizuna: Exploring Greens with Dogs (and a Cat)
Cooking is a skill I apparently lost with menopause—and only miss when I’m hungry. I used to be a great cook. When I say this to friends they always pause, clearly deciding between laughing at what they presumed to be a joke or at what I’d cook, which wouldn’t be. It doesn’t stop me from […]
The Not So Crazy Things We Do for Our Animals
Here I’d been thinking I was just a bit off. And, as usual, not regretting it a bit. When I think about being a bit off, I understand that I’m more off than normal. At least that’s what some people tell me, because I’m making a living in partnership with a crystal ball (literally). I […]
My Mom Wore Tweety Socks: Why I Care
My mom wore Tweety socks. She thought they were hilarious. She’d sit in her chair and raise her feet in the air, wiggling them at the world. Giggling. Made me laugh, too. Annoyed my brother. In fact, he was offended and objected to her wearing Tweety socks. They weren’t age appropriate. Really? What is age […]
The Alchemy of Grief: 50 Years Later
In Memoriam: Randall Ray Fritz, July 26, 1947 – November 1, 1961. Years ago, I couldn’t imagine that today would ever occur. Today, it’s been 50 years. What to make of them? In October 1961 my grandparents came out from Montana to visit. My oldest brother, Randy, was sick, in and out of the […]
How an Eagle Kachina Accidentally Helped Build a Community
My mom loved Southwest art. My dad loved my mom. I loved them. When the eagle kachina dropped into our lives, I was greedily snatching as much time with them as I could, building memories. One day my dad called and said he’d found an art piece for mom. “Not like yours,” he said wryly. […]