What appears to be, seldom is. The water that runs down our body looks as if it is going down the drain. But some sneaky droplets soak into our skin, adding needed moisture. A parent’s angry words seem to go in the teenager’s ear, and with a shrug, out the other. But barbed phrases echo far into adulthood. A strengthening embrace in tragic moments not only last the 30 seconds, but carries broken parts over rugged terrain. Slammed doors and locked windows attempt to keep out t

We spend our days planning, plotting, painting every detail in our picture-perfect life. In our three-year calendar, we diligently mark events, anniversaries, vacations – secure in our illusion of predictability. We start this future-fantasizing early: dreaming of the fairy-tale wedding before wearing a bra; starring in a heroic career prior to passing grade school. Time moves as it should until it doesn’t. Too much rain combined with melting piles of snow flows from the nort