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If the truth be told, the empty nest is hard. I miss my children. I miss the noise. I miss the dinner table. I miss the routine. I miss the mess. I even miss the laundry---somehow smelly soccer socks remind me that an 18 an...

By Lauren Chesley What was I thinking? This thought has crossed my mind several times in the one week since I uprooted my safe and familiar life in Cincinnati to set up my new home in Chicago. What was I thinking? I arrived one week ago today. I have...

By Lauren Chesley Sometimes it's all about the anticipation, but when it comes to the moment-- it's far simpler than we expect. My mom always said "keep it simple." (aka KISS.) That is certainly the case today. College send off-- a strong hug-- a quick (my son...

  By Lauren Chesley Sunday, August 30, 2015 It is this day. The one I have thought about…dreaded…counted…contemplated. I just went to wake my 18 year old son. He is sleeping diagonally because his beautiful six foot self has outgrown his bed. He is sprawled out corner to...

That’s that what I feel like this week because I’m back in Cincinnati, still running into old friends who are saying “you’re back already?” It’s more a question of finishing up final details. Or maybe more “critical details” are appearing because it’s harder to say goodbye...

Most of the boxes are packed and labeled and ready for their new home. I spent the weekend trying to follow my own advice on packing—and purging, which had me thinking about the continuum of my life, and how one thing leads to the next,...

I am not exactly certain how the time has whizzed by since my last blog entry in April. Let’s just say it has been a busy (and productive) spring and those empty calendar pages that I often refer to have been fuller than I thought....

Don’t we all remember that day? I actually even remember what I was wearing: a very cool red blazer with 5 inch lapels. I know exactly where I was standing when the lady took my picture with an old fashioned camera and handed over my...