life

new schedule

By Kate / September 26, 2011 /

Well, I made it through the first week of full-time work last week, but by Friday afternoon, I was exhausted (and had officially developed a head cold). I really like the work (and my coworkers are lovely), but I did feel that pull back to my desk (when will I get any writing done?) and…

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clutter and clarity

By Kate / August 26, 2011 /

I’m awake early these days, my to-do list making it impossible for me to sleep past a certain (still-dark) hour. So I get up, make some tea, and sit down at my desk, which is once again cluttered beyond recognition. Here I sit, thinking about the weekend (a couple of birthday parties, housework, back-to-school shopping)…

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when there is hope, hope

By Kate / August 17, 2011 /

(A heartbreaking, but take-action post.) A month ago, D and I found out that our good friend, John “Sly” Sylvester might have ALS (Lou Gerhig’s Disease). Earlier this summer, John and his wife, Tessie, spent two weeks at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester because over the last year John had lost mobility in his hand…

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a blur

By Kate / August 11, 2011 /

How can it almost be the middle of August already? Summers always go too fast, but this summer has been a blur. I drove up to St. Cloud yesterday to present to the Forum of Executive Women about writing, publishing and motherhood, and it was such a wonderful event. What an interesting and organized group…

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celebrating spencer

By Kate / July 26, 2011 /

Saturday we held the service for my grandpa, and it was lovely. There were tears, of course, but there was also lots of laughter as people stood up and shared their memories of my grandpa—his optimism, his integrity, his sense of humor, and his extraordinary golf swing. I read the piece I wrote last week…

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ready

By Kate / July 6, 2011 /

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers over the last couple of weeks. I know all of you have experienced the deaths of loved ones, and I know many of these loved ones were too young to die. At 102, Spencer wasn’t too young. But as I sat by him in those…

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1/19/1909 – 6/30/2011

By Kate / June 30, 2011 /

My grandpa, Spencer Nelson, died early this morning. In the coming days and weeks, I’m sure I’ll write more about my last days with him, but for now, I’ll just post a few photos. Grandpa and Grandma were florists. Here he stands with a bouquet. He served in WWII as a Military Police officer on stateside…

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some thoughts on dying

By Kate / June 27, 2011 /

Warning: This is long and tangential. It’s the only way I can write it. On Thursday afternoon, my mom was helping my grandpa walk to the door, when Grandpa’s legs gave out and both he and my mom went down. He didn’t have a stroke; he just didn’t have any strength left in his legs,…

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happy father's day!

By Kate / June 19, 2011 /

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. Wishing everyone a lovely day! D had to coach this morning, but we’ll greet him with homemade cards and the electric griddle he’s been coveting. We’ll have a little family time followed by some solo time for him to watch the US soccer game. Then dinner…

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musings at 4 a.m.

By Kate / June 8, 2011 /

Last night D. brought home Blizzards for the girls and for himself, and my “I’ll just have two bites of yours” turned into me eating half of his Oreo Blizzard. (Can you see why he doesn’t like to share with me?) I have a friend who insists that DQ is not a “deliberate dessert” (meaning…

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