I don’t know when I stopped believing in Santa Claus but I do remember when I started. I must’ve been 6 or 7. Every thing I knew, I learned from TV. So, I knew I was supposed to write a wish list and send it to the North Pole. I was old enough to know to put mail in an envelope with a stamp. I think I knew to put a return address on the envelope. I don’t know, however, if I knew that most addresses needed a zip code. I know for certain, I didn’t have a zip code for the North Pole and I couldn’t find it in…

Having self-diagnosed ADHD is not a good thing, especially during a cold, icy snowstorm. With slick roadways, my strong inclination to not drive and my distaste for public transportation, I find myself stuck at home with an inability to focus on anything and a restlessness that makes me bounce off the walls. I feel so trapped that my head is spinning. I can hardly sit still. At this point, TV is not appealing, books are not appealing, writing is not appealing…nothing is appealing. The only thing that IS appealing is the idea of shoveling the snow out of the driveway. Yes, it’s 8:30 in the evening. That’s correct, I don’t…

It overtakes us whether we are ready or not. Though we know it’s always somewhere near.   We fight with it. We fall into it. We give in to it. It makes us do things we said we never would. It brings people together, even if that was the last of our intentions. The “L” word of the day: loneliness. Loneliness can do all of this to the soundest of minds. It can surface at any time. At the end of a mind-consuming project. In the middle of life’s challenges. After a soul-enriching weekend. During an isolating snowstorm. At a fork in the road. Loneliness, or worse yet, the fear…

Ah, the spark. That mix of electricity, adrenaline and intoxication all condensed into tiny sizzling pops that set off a chain of magnetic forces that lead two people together. Born from two-way chemistry. (Two, not one. A one-way attraction is just a crush.) When that spark pops, nature takes over and runs its course. There is no need to remember any rules, any tricks or any games that are designed to create connections. It all just happens. You never have to remember to laugh at his jokes because you’re already all smiles. You never have to strategize a flirtatious touch, you just reach out. There is no chasing, you just…

Last week, a friend and I were playing a game. We were out having dinner and observing couples around us and guessing what their stories were. First date? Friends? Lifetime partners? For as much as I could tell, we weren’t necessarily good at this game but that didn’t stop us from trying. Couple by the Window My friend described the girl as a typical Marina Girl. Young, attractive, big boobs readily displayed with a low neckline. Her date was attractive too. Well-dressed by Portland standards, typical by San Fran’s. Their conversation seemed strained. She sat back in her chair. He was not enchanting as demonstrated by her bored look. With…