Free samples and friendly faces

On the way home from a stressful medical appointment, Mama and I decided to pop into CVS for a few random things and our day was completely uplifted. When we couldn’t find a particular item, we happened to meet our local store’s Beauty Consultant, Nicole Cowlin. She was so helpful and kind to us, even…

Here we go again

For months I’ve agonized over whether or not to continue writing about #OneGoodThing each day, a project which started as a New Year’s resolution three years ago today. I knew with clarity that I wasn’t done last January 1st, same as the January 1st before that. But this year, I considered ending the series at…

3 years of good things

Today marks the end of three years of writing about one good thing every day. They’ve not been a great three years of my life. In fact, they’ve been quite trying. Some days I’ve been filled with despair, but focusing on finding a shred of goodness in each day has helped me survive and cope.…

Wreath from Chessy

Our regular Trader Joe’s grocery store, which burned down in the Santa Rosa Firestorm last year, recently reopened and I was looking forward to returning today. Once you get past the overcrowded parking lot, everyone in the store is super nice and very helpful. When I first began my shopping, an older woman in a…

Hug a caregiver

November is National Family Caregivers Month. I’ve been a sole carer for my amazing Mama for the last seven and a half years. I always knew I’d take care of Mama when the time came. I’m happy that I’m able to be here for her and to give her the best quality of life possible. Caregiving…

Holiday in pajamas

Mama and I enjoyed a quiet Thanksgiving at home. It was a day filled with naps and reading, Paisley cuddles, and tasty food. We stayed in our pajamas all day, except when I took Paisley for a walk in the rain. I can’t get enough of deep breathing in the fresh air, now that the…

Fantastic international surprise

One of my dearest friends, who I haven’t seen in years, surprised me with a visit this afternoon! It was most unexpected, since she now lives in Toronto, Canada. We used to live on opposite sides of Lake Merritt in Oakland, and we’d hang out all the time. That seems like a different lifetime ago,…