School’s Out…For Summer Today is my son’s last day of school. Not forever, and not even until Fall really. But every year I get the Alice Cooper song stuck in my head. I am still annoyed the Minneapolis Public Schools start each new school year the week before Labor Day. I would rather have my […]
People
Power of Music
Without Music Life Would Be a Mistake Winter in Minnesota makes me want to hibernate, and I generally want to hunker down after the chaos of the holidays. Recently I looked into getting a Seasonal Affective Disorder lamp (some prefer to call them “happy” lamps). But it turns out they may not be a good […]
Cliché, but true
They Grow Up So Fast Once upon a time we had the best neighbors in the world. The parents were great company and their adorable daughter was slightly older than my son. The two spent a lot of time playing together and it was great. But they moved away as their family grew and they […]
Bayfield, WI
The Island Awaits You Last weekend we headed North to Bayfield, WI for our lovely friends’ wedding. I’ve been up there a handful of times and adore it. This visit was even more fun, having a bunch of our friends there with us. And since I wasn’t the official wedding photographer I was able to […]
Achieving hygge
The Geography of Happiness This year has been one of transition for me. At the beginning of 2015 I left my employer after ten years, though I had been happy there much of the time. My role was changing – again – but the future was far too nebulous. I’m not a big fan of […]
Northward Equinox
Springing Ahead The Walker Art Center’s Sculpture Garden has long been one of my favorite places in Minneapolis (along with the Walker itself). I clearly remember my first visit, on a field trip with my suburban (but nearly rural) school. It just felt magical. Like a creative oasis. I started visiting on my own as […]
First Birthday
Ray of Sunshine February in Minnesota can be a tough month. Technically it’s the shortest one but we’re so deep into winter it can really drag. So it’s best to look for bright spots. I found one last weekend. A lovely family asked me to meet them at the Mall of America to take some […]
The First Citizen of Minneapolis
The Ancient Oak Last winter seemed to be never-ending. There were far too many of those soul-sucking Polar Arctic Vortex days with dangerous windchills. So severe that classes were canceled on multiple occasions. A rare thing for Minnesotan schools! This winter has been far gentler (knock on wood). Mild enough that I was able to […]
History Not Memory
Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere Today we observed the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Listening to the radio this morning I was reminded that many Americans – myself included – were born after his assassination in 1968. But I’ve told my son that when I was in high school, MN schools […]
Let It Snow
The Weather Outside is Frightful What a funny Fall. The fine weather stuck around a good long while which was fabulous. We enjoyed a lovely long weekend in Lake Pepin. But then, BAM. Sudden cold snap. January in November. Thanksgiving was bitterly cold. Naturally all the snow melted just in time for Christmas. And didn’t […]