How did we get here already? This question percolates in my bubbling brain every August. My head is like a coffee pot brewing over-roasted beans. This year feels more intense, more pivotal, more emotional.

I had planned to write about my summer adventures today. There are wacky, wild moments and unforgettable ones, too! But every time I carved quiet time to compose the travel blog, somebody or something unexpectedly interrupted and required immediate attention.

August. A month for years I’ve dreaded. I’ve lost more than six loved ones in August. The first pivot from sadness to joy occurred on August 17, 2004. My beautiful, baby girl entered our world, and it forever changed for the better.

It’s the beginning of July. We are halfway through the year. Sit with that statement for a moment. Stop what you’re doing and let that realization sink in.

Do you remember the first time you sat behind a wheel and learned to drive? I do. My first car was a white, boxy 1984 Volvo. My brother and I shared the car.

Yesterday was Father’s Day. People worldwide celebrated and honored fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and others. Leisurely breakfasts, lingering lunches, and lively dinners spanned the hours of June 17.