Musings

Despite the hopefulness that comes with any New Year, January in the upper Midwest is typically characterized by a desolate and frigid landscape. A fresh snowfall offers a glittering reprieve from the bleakness of the season, but much of the month is blanketed in darkness. The dull gray of a cloudy day is often exacerbated by an early sundown, leading to long and gloomy evenings. For those in grief, all these factors may enhance the inner dullness that loss brings. Arriving o

As I sat down to write my December Monthly Musings post, my thoughts turned to Brad’s childhood anecdotes about the proper way to gift a Nerf football. Through his telling, it became obvious that my late husband loved to pull gentle pranks on his friends and siblings when it came time for gift giving in their early years. He recounted with glee how he would disguise the gift of a Nerf football by placing it in the largest box available. On other occasions, the football was pl

Recently, a New York Times article not only caught my attention, it also altered my perception of myself. Published September 7, 2025, it was titled, “Your Zodiac Sign Is 2,000 Years Out of Date.” As I read, I learned that the Zodiac signs we know through popular lore are based upon the constellations behind the sun as we observe them from Earth. Nevertheless, the authors explain that due to Earth’s wobble, the relative difference in size amongst constellations, and creative

In late August, I was surprised to find an uninvited visitor on my backyard deck. Though I was anticipating the 5 year anniversary of my...

Given this summer's scorching temperatures, it is not surprising that I found myself pondering the benefits of breathable fabrics these...

Like many modern phenomena, a quick Google or AI search provides seemingly resolute answers to the many trials of grief. People may use...