“But, why?” It’s easy to relegate that question to the relentless, persistent, sometimes pesky toddler phase that goes something like this: Time to eat. “But, why?” Time for bed. “But, why?” That’s hot. “But, why?” Sound familiar? While “why” might be a dreaded word for a season of parenting, I believe asking why shouldn’t be reserved for the very young. […]

I’m always amazed at the parallels I come across in my life. One of the biggest to date—an improperly filled cistern under our back porch and its connection to childhood trauma—is the inspiration behind the book I am writing. Another more recent connection I’ve made has to do with my track bag. That’s not surprising as, since March, I have […]

Allergies aside, the human nose is a pretty spectacular tool. It humidifies inhaled air. It prevents large particles from entering the lungs. And of course, it smells. Some smells pass through the nose like a sweet perfume. Some smells have the ability to transport us to another time and place—like Grandma’s kitchen. Some smells are head­ache inducers. I always take […]

I stood at my kitchen counter with soup pot in hand. Slowly I tilted the pot, still heavy-laden with leftover cheesy potato goodness, toward a storage bowl I had placed on the counter. And then came the telltale splash along with warmth seeping into my tennis shoe. I had misjudged where exactly to tilt the pot, and subsequently missed the […]

We have a woodstove at our house, and even in this dud-winter, we have used the stove on multiple occasions. It’s nice to have an extra heat source for the cold snaps. And if we ever got snow, it would be nice for that, too. When we first moved into the house over four years ago, I left the stove’s […]

I’ve been thinking about trees. Some of you with a green thumb might be nodding in agreement. It probably doesn’t take much to convince you that plants are spectacular. Perhaps you’re even bold enough to garden without gloves. If so, I applaud you. You are one brave individual. But this “enjoying nature” thing is surprising for me because of one […]

When I think about my Olson family Christ­mas celebrations, many smells accompany those memories. The dessert table, for instance, gently mixes aromas of Spritz cookies, peanut-butter balls and pies. You can smell turkey baking before opening the door to the house. Fresh rolls and rye bread accompany the mix. And then, right before meal time, another smell circulates. Honestly, it’s […]

Lately I’ve been interested in things I deem scientific. For some of you that isn’t a stretch. Perhaps you thrive in the scientific realm. I know many who are adept in the sciences, but I don’t consider myself to fall into that category. I never really cared for science in school, except meteorology, and I blocked out many of the […]

Have you ever noticed that some stretches of time seem to have themes? I’m not talking about well-laid plans to have a one-track mind. Or obsessing over pumpkin spice. Or seeking like-minded opinions. I’m talking about those things that seemingly pop up accidently, over and over, until you know it isn’t an accident. Perhaps you see the same person in […]

Six years ago was an agonizing time. As we awaited my then 2-year-old’s surgery, I was a ball of nerves. I was covered in a fear so paralyzing, it nearly suffocated me. The past experience of my brother’s death mingled with the present situation of leaving my daughter in the hands of a surgeon. I was petrified of losing her. […]