I never thought of myself as someone who defined herself by her children. Whose life was so closely intertwined with theirs that I would feel lost once they left home. But apparently I am. … [Read more...] about my baby just graduated college. what do i do now?
Personal Essays
san diego on fire
Once again, San Diego is burning. As I write this, there are at least half a dozen fires out of control and Michael and I are going through stuff, trying to decide what to take if we end up having to evacuate. Again. … [Read more...] about san diego on fire
my mom, style icon?
It’s a total shock to the system the first time you realize your mother had a life before you were born. So you can only imagine how my sister and I felt, at ages 7 and 10, when we were grocery shopping with our mom one afternoon and were stopped in the cereal aisle by a … [Read more...] about my mom, style icon?
life reimagined
When I was a little girl, I imagined I would grow up, work in a corporate job, get married and have children. I imagined cooking for my family in our house, probably on Long Island, and going on vacations to the same tourist spots my parents took my sister and me. What … [Read more...] about life reimagined
my writing process — or lack thereof
My initial reaction to being invited to join a blog hop about my writing process was hysterical laughter. “Are you serious?” I asked, wildly trying to visualize the way words get from my head to the screen. “What writing process?” You see, that picture above pretty much … [Read more...] about my writing process — or lack thereof
the lois club
Seriously, Starbucks? My name has four letters in it and is spelled pretty much exactly like it sounds. Yet it is constantly misspelled. People look at me with blank stares when I tell them my name is Lois – or a light bulb goes on and they smile knowingly and ask, “How’s … [Read more...] about the lois club
thank you, erma bombeck
I laughed so much at the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop last weekend that my stomach still hurts. Since the next one isn’t until 2016, I figure I have two years to recover – and to come up with a book proposal. And if you’re considering going, well, I highly recommend it as both … [Read more...] about thank you, erma bombeck
happy birthday, gloria steinem!
Gloria Steinem turns 80 tomorrow. She says she has no intention of retiring, which is something we should all be grateful for -- especially because the ERA has still not passed. In celebration, I'm reposting this piece from two years ago. I'm also signing this card to wish her a … [Read more...] about happy birthday, gloria steinem!