Lunar New Year celebrations, which began on Feb. 1, last for 15 days. As I write this on the eve of that date, I am busy cooking a selection of traditional dishes for the family to enjoy. Because we live in New Zealand, a Western country far away from family…
I recently counted the number of plants in my house and came up with 45. I’ll admit I’ve gone slightly overboard, but in my defense, my passion began two years ago. When the pandemic hit here in New Zealand, many of us were forced to stay home. We took up…
My alarm goes off at 5:30 every morning, and I mute it as quickly as possible to avoid waking my husband, Aubrey (if he’s even in bed, that is, as he suffers from insomnia). I go for a run before sunrise and avoid the crowds, as very few people…
Has the COVID-19 pandemic been keeping all of us up at night? According to an online forum by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported on by The Harvard Gazette, the pandemic has resulted in a big change to people’s sleeping habits, resulting in insomnia for many.
We have had warm summer weather here in Auckland, New Zealand, the City of Sails. It’s been clear and sunny, and many are hitting the beaches just 20 minutes from us. People are making the most of the season, even as they cautiously adhere…
A few days before the new year, I cleaned my backyard deck and accidentally toppled a cactus plant onto my foot. While I walked away relatively unscathed, a week later, I noticed that tiny bumps had appeared where the cactus had hit my skin. I’d been carrying around thorns embedded…
Our Christmas tree is almost 24 years old, and it has traveled the world with us. I still remember the day I went shopping for it. We lived in St. Paul, Minnesota, at that time, and on a winter’s day under a dusting of snow, I set out to…
As we head into the Christmas season, I want to be mindful that not all of my readers celebrate the holiday. Additionally, I know not everyone is looking forward to the holidays. Still, I want to encourage all of us to embrace gratitude as we prepare for 2022. No doubt,…
I am adamant about not letting the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing issues with my husband’s health dampen our Christmas spirit. This year, I have decided to do a little more to observe the holiday. As a faith-based family, we know Christmas is not all about presents and festivities.
My husband Aubrey’s hereditary ATTR amyloidosis journey is included in a forthcoming book titled “Rare Disease Drug Development: Clinical, Scientific, Patient, and Caregiver Perspectives.” He feels very touched that the editor saw fit to reach out to him. Emotional healing occurs when we can provide insight into a…