Category: Mary O’Connor

“Believe in yourself,

February 22, 2016

not only in swimming, but in life itself. You always have to have fun. You have to have an open mind. If you’re not enjoying it, don’t do it. Life’s too short.” — Debbie Meyer *   *   * Muscovy duck swimming, photo by Alex, ten years old © 2016

Grumpy

February 8, 2016

I blame the rain. Generally, rain soothes, restores, nurtures. But not when stuck in the hand of El Nino, simply sitting, draped in the grayness of clouds, laughing heavy tears as if the light of the sun was confined to the pages of nursery rhymes, as if blue skies belonged only to painters, as if Noah … More Grumpy

Reprieve

February 4, 2016

And still they wait— 157 or more, gathered before the soup kitchen door. Waiting— for relief from the chill, from the brunt of hunger, from lost promise. Waiting— before the shadow of light that must define hope peters out. Waiting— to escape from the wet, from the dirt and the dark. Tonight, tomorrow, again, again and … More Reprieve

“But here’s the thing–no matter how many possessions you have, you never feel secure.

January 28, 2016

As soon as you get one thing, there is always something else you ‘need’.” — Karen Kingston “Give me the discipline to get rid of the stuff that’s not important, the freedom to savor the stuff that gives me joy, and the patience not to worry about the stuff that’s messy but not hurting anybody.” — … More “But here’s the thing–no matter how many possessions you have, you never feel secure.