I could  see the moon this morning. It was silent and pale, strong somehow. If defying the sun to rise. The sun has risen, although you can’t see much of it. It’s hidden behind low, thick layers of the nimbostratus. It’s a very simple rule, really. Just because something is hidden, doesn’t mean its not … Continue reading →

  When I met Frans, he had just become an uncle. Here he is with his newborn nephew, Floris, who is now walking and talking. I like Floris because we speak the same amount of Dutch. He sent me this photo soon after we met because, let’s be honest. What woman can resist a man … Continue reading →

She felt like she was always living in the not yet. When she was a little girl, she used to sit for hours next to the basket cradle and rock her doll, reading a book…then she was tall enough to climb a tree, reading a book. One day she left home for university and found … Continue reading →

It’s time I told this story. It will be told in three parts, from the girl’s perspective (because I am the girl and as humans we can only tell our own stories). Maybe Frans will one day tell his. By the way, this is Frans as a boy. Isn’t he adorable? (He still has that … Continue reading →

In Holland, the sky has a cap (Dutch word is ‘pet’) on it. The land is low and long, and feels endlessly wide, but finite and contained, because you feel the weight of the ever-present gray. In Florida there is no ceiling to the sky. In Florida, the air has a density and moisture you … Continue reading →

Nearly every other day I run in Vondelpark. This may sound impressive, but getting out of bed to run is one of the biggest inner battles I have all week…I just…want…bed…a few…more…minutes. It’s cloudy, it’s gray. So warm here…just a few…more…minutes. But to me running in Vondelpark symbolizes what I’m here to do: get uncomfortable and … Continue reading →