memories

When my husband and I decided to have a fourth child just before I turned 40 and he turned 43, we knew we had more love to give. Plus, we wanted to give our other children the gift of another sibling. At the time, I was excited about growing our…

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maia Storm, of Maia’s Makery. It has been edited for length and clarity.In January, my dad, with whom I have always had a strained relationship, died unexpectedly.For the last few years, my dad had been homeless on and off. Throughout that…

Last year, when my Grandma Annette died, my cousins and I got to pick out some of her jewelry to take home.I was glad to keep a few mementos of my grandmother, but I wished I knew the stories behind the necklaces and bracelets I’d grabbed. Which was her favorite?…

If you had told me a year ago that I’d be alone in the middle of the Agafay Desert, surrounded by strangers and riding camels, I would have thought you were crazy.As someone who spends all her time with family and friends, I rarely do things solo. But since graduating…