Category Archives: Family Matters

Two grandmothers, a mom and dad, a younger brother — and a seemingly composed Bat Mitzvah girl

Posted on May 28, 2017 by sheilawill

Before 9 a.m. this morning, I watched a family cadre happily entering Temple E-Manuel, the synagogue down the street from our house. All smiling, they made me wonder. Would I have had a more serene life if I had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, Family Matters, Food/happy hours | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Success=3x a week

Posted on December 31, 2016 by sheilawill

Today I bought a bottle of Prosecco to kindly usher out 2016. The year included Sheila’s Excellent Adventure to the other side of the world back in May, as well as tons of political slime. If I dredge up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, Fight wimpiness, Journalism/Writing, Nature Girl, politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Stronger Together: In honor of my friend Olivia

Posted on October 16, 2016 by sheilawill

We come from the era before selfies. Me and my dear friend Olivia, who turns 70 in a few weeks (I beat her by a few months). From promoting kids’ books and reading to little ones, to supporting our now … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, Family Matters, Fight wimpiness, Old friends | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Getting older, and older…

Posted on September 10, 2016 by sheilawill

I hope to live to a ripe old age. Watching the end in sight for a 91-year-old family member isn’t easy, but it’s instructive. Yes, she’s got all her paperwork in order. She can pay for an assisted living space, … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, Family Matters, Mount Desert Island/Maine, Nature Girl | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

I’m curious about a lot of stuff…

Posted on September 7, 2016 by sheilawill

Does my desk show that I’m curious, or sentimental, or a habitual collector, or is this photo too dark to see any of my tchotchkes (trinkets)? There’s a small ceramic head that my son made in 1st grade. There’s a cheery … Continue reading →

Posted in Baby Boomers, Family Matters, Nature Girl, The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Chocolate-covered coffee beans at a historic hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona

Posted on April 24, 2016 by sheilawill

A handful for twenty-five cents. That’s right; the same amount of chocolate-covered coffee beans from Godiva or any other hoity-toity chocolatier would be at least two dollars. We probably ate at least fifty each. We were on a mini-vacation, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, Fight wimpiness, Food/happy hours, Nature Girl, The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thankful for taxi drivers, leftover leaves, and Thanksgiving leftovers

Posted on November 27, 2015 by sheilawill

Kalid, the taxi driver from Dubai who took me from the airport to Brook and Gian’s new home in Chapel Hill, was full of Thanksgiving wisdom. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s not about religion. It still came up, … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, Food/happy hours, politics, The Rest of the World | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From my desk to my ocean: taking time to smell the roses

Posted on September 12, 2015 by sheilawill

See the tiny handcrafted bowl of dried roses? My dear friend Olivia made it. She lives in Berkeley. See the photo of Brook, about to turn 5, ready for her first day of kindergarten in Bass Harbor, Maine? She will … Continue reading →

Posted in Bopping Around Tucson, Family Matters, Mount Desert Island/Maine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Being in charge of myself…the way life should be!

Posted on August 20, 2015 by sheilawill

It’s been almost a month since I plunged back into an independent work life. Quitting my job after 10 years has been a relief — both emotionally and politically. For those of you who have sent kind words about missing … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, Fight wimpiness, Journalism/Writing, Mount Desert Island/Maine | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Saga of a Reluctant Landlord

Posted on April 11, 2015 by sheilawill

Twelve years ago, I packed my bags and headed west from Southwest Harbor, Maine, to Tucson, Arizona. I’d rent my beloved house during the winter so I could keep it for my kids, prospective grandkids to enjoy every summer, when I’d return … Continue reading →

Posted in Family Matters, Mount Desert Island/Maine, Neuroscience needs me | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments