Memorial Day Weekend: Expressing Sympathy with Empathy
There will come a day, I promise you. . . when the thought of your [loved one] brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. – V.P. Joe Biden Yesterday one of my dearest friends lost a loved one to suicide. One of my neighbors had a seizure outside my … Read more
Memorial Day Weekend: What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love
Memorial Day has been gradually morphing from a celebration of war to a celebration of loved ones who are no longer with us. Cindy Waitt at the Waitt Foundation is writing a blog about the loves of our lives. The Waitt Foundation is a leader in preventing domestic violence, and I am beyond intrigued that Ms. Waitt has … Read more
War on Women: “Hell to the NO!” Campaign ~ Are You In?
Y’all know I’m a huge Tyler Perry fan. Through his iconic character Madea, he is trying to teach women to become emPOWERed ~ to stand tall for ourselves ~ to develop an AT-tit-TUDE. In this classic photo, she’s got her cast-iron skillet out to teach her granddaughters how to say, “hell to the NO!” If … Read more
Fear Is a Shitty Address
This tree with its twisted trunk stands where the Pacific Ocean meets the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, which divides the US and Canada. I wanted to visit Neah Bay because Sir Francis Drake had sailed there in his futile quest to find the Northwest Passage. Shortly after the man I loved deeply proved … Read more
J2J: Bulbs in Bloom, 2012
My flowers bring me tremendous joy. I love the romantic blend of pale pink, lavender, and white. Hyacinths are favorite bulbs because they herald Spring. I discovered these tiny grape hyacinths in Edmonds and love their delicate addition to a container of bulbs. When this hyacinth bloomed, it took my breath away. The daffodils this … Read more
Good Grief, Charlie Brown! I Need a Vacation!
A quarter is about as simple as math gets. The quarter is our most popular coin. Little kids who can’t count know that a quarter is 25 cents, and it takes four quarters to have $1. The US Mint uses the quarter to promote celebrations (bicentennial quarter in 1976) and coin collection (50 states and national parks). Yet, this … Read more
Celebrating Over a Quarter Million Visitors from Over 125 Countries!
This weekend I’m celebrating the quarter million visitor milestone for Navigating Unchartered Waters. The little blog that started out with just 20 visitors/day on V-Day, 2009 has grown up. Visitors now come from over 125 countries around the world! It is a dream come true. I feel profoundly blessed and humbled by your support and loyalty. … Read more
Maundy Thursday: Are You in the Garden Today?
It seems like every year on Maundy Thursday that I have myself a WTF moment and know exactly how Jesus felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. My mother is terminally ill, and one of the winning lottery tickets was sold in the tiny town where I was born. So, I’ve had a lot of chats this week with … Read more
Resistance to Change: Gauntlets, Hurdles, Obstacles, and Sabotage
Shannon Wilson knows a lot about resistance to change. I remain devastated that her brilliant Rights for Mothers site was removed from the Internet. It had a wealth of information and resources for protective mothers. Sometimes allies sabotage our best efforts. They’ve got their own agendas and self-interests. I have been a champion for change … Read more
