Yesterday while driving down to Vineyard Haven I tuned into one of my favorite NPR radio talk shows. Tom Ashbrook’s topic was grief, grieving and comeback.

Folks from all over the world came to see Yefim Shubentsov to end their addictions, so four years ago I made my appointment.

Over the years people have asked in that incredulous voice, how are the winters out there? Isn’t it freezing? You get away for a few months, right?

My son’s birthday lands near Halloween, and when he was eight and nine and probably even ten and eleven, for his party I would line our whole deck with pumpkins.

One of the questions I have dreaded for the last four years is, “Do you have kids?”

I swear I was born swimming laps. I have always craved the water.