Five years ago today, my sister’s divorce was finalized. It had been a contentious, painful end to a complicated marriage. I spent the day with her and while I invited her to come out with us, understandably she declined to join us.

In the last week, I made this pretty little salad of mixed greens, peaches, blue cheese, and smoked hazelnuts as my offering at The Lost Table, a dinner for people who are grieving.

My mother passed away when I was 10 years old and my little sister was only 3. It was tragic, unexpected and took everyone by surprise.

It took me a year to begin to grieve.

After our mother died, Grandma Farah stayed with my sister and me while our father worked his night job. Mornings were filled by the sounds of my sister wailing as Farah took a fine tooth comb, ran it under the faucet, double tapped it on the edge of the sink and used it to carve, from front to back, a perfect part down the center of my sister’s skull.

My mother committed suicide 40 years ago when I was just 10 years old, my sister 3 years old. Committed is both an uniquely interesting and singularly specific term for choosing to make life, already so fragile and impermanent, an immediate and determined end.

I head out to the same coffee shop every Sunday morning and camp out for a few hours. That’s where I do most of my writing.

Its been a long winter. Heading out for a walk with my dear friend, Amy, is an opportunity to talk and walk, an activity that allows us to catch up and safely delve into our emotional innards supported by explorations of our natural world.

Now, more than ever its essential that we, small business owners, climb out of our isolation tanks and understand that we all have more to learn and succeed when we reach out to our community of small businesses across business categories.

Tomorrow marks 39 years living without my mother.

Do you ever remember celebrating, honoring or acknowledging International Women’s Day before 2017? It’s one of those days that comes and goes, year after year, without much consequence.

…as the mother of two young boys, I’ve made it my mission to instill in them an understanding about women — in particular, women are amazing, wonderful, strong, high-achieving providers and successful people who kick ass!