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Do you know what time it is? #30BrighterDays time.

    “Do you know what time it is?” my friend and neighbor Pat called to me from her garden this morning. “9:42” I said. “Do you know what time it is?” She repeated. “It’s raspberry time! Want a pint?” Her husband Mel came out the door with my rasbperries before I could even respond absolutely I want a pint.   It’s time for neighbors and berries and brighter days. Who’s with me? *** #30BrighterDays is a practice I developed for the purpose of practice– practicing noticing, practicing creative expression, and practicing brightening my perspective. I welcome… Read More »Do you know what time it is? #30BrighterDays time.

    We’re Invited

      Next week we’re invited to a fifth grade celebration and an eighth grade passage ceremony, back-to-back on the same day. We’re invited with an exceptionally happy bunch of balloons, a bowl of ramen noodles, and two cherries (with shine spots!) on top. We’re invited to say goodbye to our neighborhood elementary school; the one that educated, housed, and nurtured our family for nine years. We’re invited to say goodbye to a bazillion “Hi Mrs. Imig/Miss Ann/ Ms. MaxElliott’s Mom!!” volunteer and chaperone hours, storytime, spelling bees, four square, safety patrol, backpack art, Hannukkah Mom, and… Read More »We’re Invited

      The brightness of your 2500 stories #30BrighterDays

        WOO WOO WIERDO POST ALERT, DAD AND OTHER LOVING SKEPTICS. *** Somehow I’ve always known that I wouldn’t be able to even begin to take-in the power of LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER until I could step away from it entirely. Yesterday, one year almost to the day of the project finale, I received a gift from friends of a session with intuitive coach/guide Thea Sullivan. As one part of our session, Thea took me through an energy clearing meditation. You probably know the experience of guided meditation; deep breathing, relaxation, and imagery. Well I breathed out a… Read More »The brightness of your 2500 stories #30BrighterDays

        Magic Minutes #30BrighterDays

          Like many parents, we split the driving and errands. Recently it dawned on us that instead of always dividing up, sometimes we can share the labor and enjoy an uninterrupted conversation. Umm, NO DOY Ann and Ben?? I can’t explain why this took so long for us to see, except to say that as waitstaff you always try to get the most done in the least amount of trips. One person puts up the chairs after lunch rush while the other mops. Same with parenting tween/teens; one person drives to Hebrew school, while the other… Read More »Magic Minutes #30BrighterDays

          Northern Splendor: The Beauty of a Bright New Day #30BrighterDays

            The beauty of a bright new day! ― Lailah Gifty Akita No place makes me feel the brightness of a new day like Grand Marais, MN. I wrote about it for the May 2018 issue of Brava Magazine. Northern Splendor Tickets are selling quickly for my new show (Thursday evening 6/21) YOU AGAIN: an evening of songs and stories to benefit MOMS DEMAND ACTION. Enjoy Broadway favorites and original stories about midlife, marriage, and motherhood–with accompanist Mark Wurzelbacher–all in support of MOMS DEMAND ACTION gun violence prevention efforts. Venue is small and seating is limited–don’t wait! Buy… Read More »Northern Splendor: The Beauty of a Bright New Day #30BrighterDays

            #30BrighterDays Lights On

              My day started sluggishly. After helping the kids out the door, I lay on the couch, scrolling through my phone and bemoaning my (practical, sound, UN-FUN) decision not to join my writer friends at a conference this week in California. My friend Jim posted on Facebook about the miracle of an ordinary day, and a reminder to get busy living. I took it as a cue to get the hell off of Facebook. As it poured rain, I ran on the treadmill watching a comedy special. Moving and laughing shook off a little gloom. By… Read More »#30BrighterDays Lights On

              #30BrighterDays Mall Lunch

                Last night my 8th grader and I attended high school orientation. After the first hour, the kids left the auditorium to have Q&A with some graduating seniors, while we parents got tips from the school psychologists about raising adolescents. The grown-ups asked fraught questions about the behavior plan, drug use and active shooter drills; all of which the staff answered directly and took seriously. Near the end of the evening, my friend Dan–one of the school guidance counselors–let us know that while we fretted over if/how often to allow our kids to go to the… Read More »#30BrighterDays Mall Lunch

                #30BrighterDays An Imperfect Totally Wonderful Rehearsal

                  Today we rehearsed my new show YOU AGAIN in the venue, with the mic, and–of course– my brand new shoes. Gotta break those suckers in before show day. My dear brilliant writer friend Lisa Page Rosenberg gave me super helpful script notes. My wonderfully talented actor friend Samara gave me fabulous direction (and this great photo). My gifted accompanist and musical director Mark brought his mad piano skills. I performed for an audience of one (which is way more intimidating than an audience of 300) and she got it. She liked it! Nothing about it… Read More »#30BrighterDays An Imperfect Totally Wonderful Rehearsal

                  #30BrighterDays reminder for the fearful and anxious

                    I have a mostly sunny disposition. I think. Partly sunny with a 70% chance of scowl, says the quotation mark engraved between my eyebrows. On the flip-side of the intense gratitude I feel for my very good life, lurks fear and anxiety. It seems almost as if I have IT’S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE tattooed on the inside of my forehead, right where my third eye can fixate (on the rare occasion it pauses the monitoring of kid Xbox minutes). How easily I forget the brightness possible with each turn of a new page. Maybe… Read More »#30BrighterDays reminder for the fearful and anxious

                    Brightness Falls #30BrighterDays

                      “Mom, you have more white hairs than ever. In the next two or three years you’re gonna go entirely grey.”   I fully agree with Thomas Nashe. I let my $8.00 root touch-up kit work its magic anyhow. Tickets are on sale now for my new show (Thursday evening 6/21) YOU AGAIN: an evening of songs and stories to benefit MOMS DEMAND ACTION. Enjoy Broadway favorites and original stories about midlife, marriage, and motherhood–with accompanist Mark Wurzelbacher–all in support of MOMS DEMAND ACTION gun violence prevention efforts. Venue is small and seating is limited! Buy tickets here. https://youagain.brownpapertickets.com/