Trails and Bridges

In my five decades of living, I have wandered and roamed, walked and ran, many miles of trail. Some just …

Paths Crossing

There are days etched in my memory from months of breast cancer surgeries and treatment; the day I heard my …

A Special Place Called Okoboji

I moved to the area known as the “Iowa Great Lakes” in 1992. I was 27 and beginning my 5th …

Courage and Conviction a Day at a Time

My friend Dorothy is someone I have known since we moved to this community in 2000. We met through mutual …

Chemo Buddies

When it came to chemo, I was the one with the IV in my arm receiving the drugs and experiencing …

It Took a Few, But They Got Through

I was in denial about the extent of my drinking problem for years before I took the actions that finally …

The Birth of a Breast Cancer Activist

Breast cancer wasn’t on my radar until my sister Zita was diagnosed in 2004, followed by my sister Mary Jo …

Suggestions Only

I got a slow start to my sobriety and recovery. I stopped drinking and started spending time with others working …

Do-Overs

Remember when we were kids and we would reach an impasse in a game being played? Probably a question about …

A Yes by a Fountain

Darcy and I met in November of 1997. We realized early on that this was heading in the direction we …