To Hill and Back

This is the story of how I am winning my weight loss battle. And the truth is, a big part of it comes down to moving to Spain. What matters most about that is that it has happened in spite of everything else going on in my life. I moved to Spain for a lot … Continue reading To Hill and Back →

From “Ew, Shrimp” to Paella Night: My Spanish Food Glow-Up

When I first got here, I couldn’t peel a shrimp. Wouldn’t. Couldn’t. Too gross. Little antennae, little eyes, absolutely not. I ordered them, sure, but only if someone else did the dirty work. Fast forward, and now I’m the one in the kitchen elbow-deep in mussels, scrubbing shells like it’s the most normal thing in … Continue reading From “Ew, Shrimp” to Paella Night: My Spanish Food Glow-Up →

Music as Fuel—and Substance

I swear, the right music is like rocket fuel for my brain. I wonder if everyone works better to music, or if I’m just wired this way. I’m not much for new music (which, at 53, maybe isn’t saying much), but today I worked nearly six hours without a break because I loved every song … Continue reading Music as Fuel—and Substance →

These shoes weren’t meant for walking … apparently.

Some things you keep wearing long after they’ve stopped fitting the world’s idea of what’s “appropriate.” For me, it’s a pair of flip-flops. I fell again today. Same pair of flip-flops, same week, same downward momentum. I’ve always been a jeans-and-t-shirt-and-flip-flops kind of gal. I’ve built my life around comfort. Back when I was working … Continue reading These shoes weren’t meant for walking … apparently. →

Moving Towards …

I thought I was chasing a new place, a new experience — but I was really searching for a version of myself I hadn’t met yet. This is a story about movement, identity, and starting over at 53, even after everything breaks.