I’m feeling anxious about Thanksgiving. It’s my favorite holiday, but for some reason the always-simmering but (usually) contained political hostilities within my family have flared up, and this can make family gatherings mighty uncomfortable. I don’t know exactly what has triggered the rage that’s spilling out all over my loved ones' Facebook pages this week. I don't really … [Read more...]
I pick up the phone to hear my sister's voice in mid-reminiscence: "Hey, you know what I remembered today?" "What?" "Remember when we used to go to pick mom up from work, and we'd be sitting in the car waiting…and finally she'd come out, and as she was walking towards us, one of us would say, 'That's my mom!' And the other one would say, 'Hey - that's my mom too!' And then … [Read more...]
Because genetics and fate seem to share a wry sense of humor, I often find myself at uncomfortable family gatherings where I'm one of only a few liberals in a crowd of very outspoken conservatives. It's ironic, given these are exactly the sorts of situations I’ve spent my life avoiding. I’ve got strong convictions, but I was also raised to be polite and to avoid confrontation. … [Read more...]
No sooner had the Thanksgiving leftovers been stowed away than my Facebook feed erupted in verbal fistfights about the language of the holiday season. Evidently, “Happy Holidays” is no longer a gently inclusive expression of good will, but the opening salvo in a new Crusades. And forget about “Xmas” as well, warned an indignant friend who demanded we “keep Christ in Christmas!” … [Read more...]
As a writer, I experience periodic blocks. I don’t think creative blocks are exclusive to artists. People experience life blocks all the time, periods in your life where despite your best efforts and intentions (or maybe because of them) the things you try to do just don’t seem to get traction or go anywhere. It’s as if, as I described the downside of a Neptune transit to a … [Read more...]
Dana’s writing… brings the meaning of the planets to life like no other writer in this field. She’s the Meryl Streep of astrological writers: smart, sane, and insightful...”
Jeff Jawer, The Mountain Astrologer
