Dear Zoe and Talia, Somehow, your birthdays always sneak up on me. I know the date of your birth. I think about that date as Christmas comes and goes, as the New Year celebration waves goodbye, as we get back into the swing of things with school and extracurriculars. I have time, I always think…

Dear Aaron, Last year, on the occasion of your birthday, I celebrated thirteen reasons I love you. Those reasons spanned the gamut, from your smile to your confidence to your love for our animal housemates (no, I’m not referring to your sisters), but every one of them encompassed you. I went on to wish you…

Life has become so busy these days that it wasn’t until I came down the stairs, prepared my coffee, and booted up my computer this morning that I realized I hadn’t written anything about Melina’s birthday. No, I didn’t forget the date or that she’d be turning ten today. I didn’t even forget that it…

Dear Zoe and Dear Talia, Today of all days I feel as though I should address you individually. You are, after all, each celebrating a sixteenth birthday. But as usual, this letter is going to be to the both of you because—let’s be honest—you’re both very much alike and maybe, I’m just a little bit…

Thirteen reasons I love you, Aaron (to celebrate your thirteenth birthday, of course!): Your red hair. Your patience with your little sister (although these days, that patience sometimes wanes). Your dedication to the feline and canine friends that live with us. Your ability to put on paper something you envision. Your wiry arms that still…

Insomnia stinks. Those of you who suffer from it know I speak the truth. I’ve suffered two episodes of insomnia in the past week: the first came just about a week ago, and the second occurred last Thursday night. While I’m not entirely sure of its cause, I think I had trouble sleeping because I…