family

(DO) Talk to Strangers.

January 2, 2014 kales@umich.edu ditching comfort zones, family, mindfulness, my dad

It’s New Years Day and it’s been an orgy of football at our house (“The one day I get to monopolize the TV all day!” says my husband gleefully.). After watching for a while (and mostly munching on the delicious Chex mix that Patrick makes to go with the New Year’s football), I escape to my study for a break. Surfing the internet, I come across a lovely video segment that hit me just the right way to start off the New Year. The segment portrays a photographer, Richard Renaldi, who finds strangers on the street and poses them in warm embraces.

A Greek Christmas Carol

December 21, 2013 kales@umich.edu family, YiaYia

My grandmother was an amazing woman. I described her briefly in my first blog post, but that mention really didn’t do her justice. Born in a tiny village in Northern Greece called Kato Lesnitsa, my “YiaYia” had only a sixth grade education, but was the wisest woman I have ever met. We spent a lot of time with her growing up including most summers when she came to visit us in Pennsylvania, and during Christmas vacations where we visited her in Florida.

No Yoga Pants.

December 14, 2013 kales@umich.edu ditching comfort zones, family

Written in pink marker, “The List” appeared on my night stand. It was the evening before my 13 year old daughter’s field trip to Mexicantown in Detroit with her Spanish class. Sophia had asked me to be one of the chaperones: “My friends like you…they think you are fun.” I was slightly suspicious, but honored. Who doesn’t want to be the fun mom? And then the List appeared.

(Gero)transcendence, my mom and me.

December 3, 2013 kales@umich.edu family, my mom

About a month ago, I traveled to Falls Church, Virginia to give a talk. As is my usual pattern, I sign on to give a talk 6-12 months ahead of time. “Sure! Sounds great.” And in my office, on the end of the phone, 6-12 months ahead of time, it truly does. A couple weeks ahead of the actual event, it dawns on me. I have to leave Ann Arbor and my family (husband, 3 kids and 2 dogs) to go somewhere. Crap. As we like to say in

(DO) Talk to Strangers.

A Greek Christmas Carol

No Yoga Pants.

(Gero)transcendence, my mom and me.

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