At The Sonoma Speakers Series, I was deeply moved to hear Anthony Ray Hinton tell his story. He is a black man. He was put in prison, wrongfully, on Alabama’s death row, for 28 years. I stood in a space the size of his cell... Continue
What's Up With That?
I want to submit my first column since Val Robichaud’s death saying that he is in my heart every time I push the send button. He was a dedicated and witty magician - committed to the circulation of words and ideas in this newspaper and... Continue
March 2, 2024 Dearest Val, After all the years of wrestling with the challenges of keeping print alive, I am so deeply sad and lost to have you gone. Good God, you were the godfather of The Sun. I have waited to write - waited... Continue
Lately everything sounds like it’s about pointy things, guns, rockets, or bullet points. Is it just me? I’m avoiding it all like the plague. We know how well that worked out. It just seems like it’s all coming to a head, like the political arena... Continue
Pondering this question, slurping a long noodle, eking out a couple of vegetables tossed in the soup, I had to laugh. Gladys McCarey, MD, 102-year-old author of The Well Lived Life, suggests asking “When life is truly flowing, what gives us juice? Juice – the... Continue
Ha! This should be a blank page. Relationships always take some effort. The fine art of getting along with others is a “thing.” Plunged into the holidays after we’ve all gone through so many changes in the last few years can be a mixed bag.... Continue
When I ask people about the state of this twirling world, some say: “We’re going to hit the wall,” or “It’s horrible, what’s happening with war, politics, the cost of medications and housing, but what can I do about it?” That’s a dangerous thought. We... Continue
When people ask me what’s on my mind I sometimes say, “death…” but I don’t like to talk about it because it’s a downer. It's the absolute oddest "thing" – death, I mean. It's hard to talk about, to "get on top of..." to embrace,... Continue
It’s surreal, from Obama to Trump, Covid shutting doors around the world for two years, heat waves above 110 degrees in our little buttercup town – then throw in some days of gratitude, fun with friends, rains and earthquakes. So, here’s what’s on my mind... Continue
Could humans get out their clogged emotions, and become calm like a cat? Even though they can be messy, feelings matter. They convey passion, they help us know what moves us, what makes us wake up, what causes us to fall in love or choose... Continue