The Son Also Rises

July 24, 2015July 23, 2015 / roughwighting / 86 Comments

I look at him across the table, thinking, who is he? Who is this tall, intense, handsome, stiff, strange man sitting with me at La Provence, eating his asparagus quiche daintily as if it were made of flower pedals?

I’ve known him for more than 30 years – intimately – and I truly have not a clue who he is. It was so much easier, when he was my baby boy, and even when he was a burgeoning almost-teenager, still giving me hard hugs at night. He told me stories about his war games with his best friend back then, and his dreams of being an importer/exporter, even though he had no idea what that meant. He was chubby, with a wonderful chuckle and a dimple as wide as a dime. Continue reading →

Climbing into Thanksgiving Skin

November 21, 2014November 21, 2014 / roughwighting / 56 Comments

Around the Thanksgiving table one year, my guy, our two teenaged children, and my visiting father stared at me with wide eyes as I insisted that we take turns listing what we were thankful for.

My man, uncomfortable with such a request, began to clear the table while still seated.

Our daughter bubbled forth, like champagne from a shaken bottle, describing the blessings in her life: the Science lab (what can I say? she ended up teaching 6^th grade Science!), her bedroom (she had an amazing view of the SF Bay), her plans to attend the Nutcracker ballet in two weeks.

Our son, usually the stoic of the family and non-emotional like his dad, peered solemnly around the table, breathed in deeply, and proclaimed, “Family.”

All grew quiet when it was my father’s turn. “You know what I have to say,” he claimed quietly. Continue reading →

Baboon Heaven

August 22, 2014August 21, 2014 / roughwighting / 24 Comments

“But is there a heaven?” he asked in all seriousness.

“Well,” I replied, “I think, um, I think that depends on how you define ‘heaven.’”

Son Sean, 12 at the time, looked at me blankly. “Whatd’ya mean?” he asked earnestly. Continue reading →

More Than a Wooden Shoe

June 27, 2014June 27, 2014 / roughwighting / 21 Comments

I walk the strangely silent town at 7 a.m. The sun is blazing this time of year, when the egrets rise with the golden orb at 5:30 a.m.

Most of the humans, however, are still blearily eyeing their cups of caffeine.

So I’m almost alone this morning with the seals and the pelicans and the few pedestrians here and there, breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the satisfying strain of muscle, but also trying to fling away the worries swarming my brain like a bunch of bees. Continue reading →

Fluffing My Aura

June 6, 2014June 6, 2014 / roughwighting / 45 Comments

June is a happy month for my family. But it’s also a month that I need to fluff my aura a lot.

Until a few months ago, I never knew about the joy of fluffing. Sure, I’m a yoga-believer. I try to meditate once in a while, and during my long walks, I definitely find myself in a “different mind-space” at times.

But normally, I’m as stressed as the last (and first) person. Life, you know? It springs surprises and quirks, leaps and jerks, every day. Sometimes, I just want to hide under a good book and escape – but most times I’m unable to get away from the hustle/bustle of daily irritations, situations, and difficult deliberations. Continue reading →