I received a most unusual and surprising gift from my parents for my 40th birthday a few years ago. My mom had made a lovely birthday dinner (as she does for all of our family’s special days), and we were sitting around the dining table chatting and enjoying dessert. She presented me with an envelope … Continue reading Magic Potty

*Written 3/20/17 Tomorrow my mom flies to Paris. Paris. My favorite city in the world. The city I lived in for a year during college. The city where my husband proposed and where he took me several years ago for a magical week of celebrating having survived our children’s early years. A city I will … Continue reading Paris

Image by TPHeinz from Pixabay Those of you raised in the 1970s and 80s, as I was, may recall Ice Cube’s iconic 1992 Gangsta Rap anthem “It Was a Good Day.” It describes a day in the life of a young hoodlum; he walks us through his various escapades…from shooting hoops to having relations with a willing lady … Continue reading I Didn’t Have To Use My AK

When I was a child I would visit my Grandma Ruth in Los Angeles and stay at her single story ranch style house. My grandma was what you would call “a piece of work”. She was stubborn, abrasive and difficult. She was also wildly entertaining, a tremendous storyteller, and an adventurous, independent spirit. She squeezed … Continue reading Ain’t You Shamed You Sleepy Head?

I’m at a stage of life when people around me have begun caring for their aging parents. Friends of mine check in on their folks daily to make sure everything is ok. They help them with their technology challenges, run errands for them, cook meals for them, schedule medical appointments. Some of my friends even … Continue reading Forever Child

It is a stunning spring day. The sun is shining, the sky is brilliantly blue and there is a warm, fragrant breeze drifting into my bedroom through the sliding door off of the deck. So tempting. I want to put on my workout clothes, grab my dog Riley and head to Mount Tamalpais for a … Continue reading In Bed

My maiden name was Sarah Ilana Carlat, so my initials growing up were SIC. I always joked with my friends that I would marry a man whose last name began with a K, and then I would be SICK. I thought it was hilarious, but I never thought about the possibility of actually becoming sick. … Continue reading S.I.C.K.

Image by pixel1 from Pixabay I thought the diagnosis would be THE END. The end of symptoms and suffering. The end of a 15 year journey to figure out why my stomach was upset all of the time, why my skin broke out in rashes and acne, why I felt so anxious. A journey filled with endless questions, … Continue reading The Diagnosis Is Just The Beginning

Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay The illnesses I have been blessed with are the autoimmune conditions Celiac Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, as well as recurring viral and bacterial infections and a heavy toxic load. These conditions contribute to frequent episodes of chronic fatigue and flu-like symptoms. I place them all under the umbrella of chronic illness. I … Continue reading But What Does It Look Like?

I’m Sarah. I am 44 years old. I am a mother, daughter, sister, wife, and friend. I am also a singer (who quit her women’s chorus), a nutrition consultant (who is taking a break from seeing clients), an aspiring circus artist (who no longer scales the static trapeze), a yogi (who can’t commit to classes), … Continue reading Letting The Light In