Over the River and Through the Woods
Last Sunday evening, our church hosted turkey bingo. One of my favorite childhood memories is playing church bingo when my Grandpa Allen...
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- Nov 7
Heads Carolina Tails California
My first memorable hot-headed experience was in fourth grade basketball. It was my first year of playing organized ball and I snapped at...
- Oct 9
Blank Space
While out of town to give a speech, I met an old friend, Peter. He’s truly one of my all-time favorite lawyers and a dear friend. We...
- Aug 21
It's Alright
Life is too short not to stop and smell (pick up) the roses (feathers). Birds of a feather stick together. It all started on the day of...
- Jul 25
Have Mercy on the Criminal
I feel strongly that my political beliefs come from one very basic idea: We are defined by the ways we treat the least among us. I often...
- Jul 11
You Can Call Me Al
Even though I was only twelve years old, I still remember the day I met her. I was in 7th grade and she was the brand spankin’ new 4th...
- Jun 13
Wicked Dreams
See you in my dreams. If only it was that easy. I wish for a few things in life: Dinner with Elton, a lake cabin, to not dream at all...
- Jun 7
Fight Song
A while back, I had to have an IV treatment. I’ve only had one every one or two years for a while now and it’s not for AE, so I consider...
- May 30
Send Me On My Way
/ Author's Note: I wrote this stream of conscious blog on my phone by the river on May 26, 2023. I spent my first anniversary on May 26,...
- May 23
Better Angels
“You’re an original Stebbins Strong, Dad.” I’m so glad I got to share that with him. It came the night we had the call. That’s how I’ll...
- Apr 11
Can't Stop The Feeling
Just the other day, I read an Instagram post from Mel Robbins, who is widely known, a lawyer, news commentator, keynote speaker, NYT...
- Mar 21
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
You can say it. You can tell me, “I’m sorry you’re no longer a lawyer.” Just yesterday, someone messaged me about my book. She was...
- Mar 14
Perfect
While I didn’t sign up for them, a while back, daily inspirational quotes started showing up in my inbox. I absolutely love them. And if...
- Feb 28
I Hope You Dance
My girl’s a dancer. It was all I could think as she moved to the music in her gold and black sparkly outfit. With her little tan jazz...
- Feb 1
Somebody That I Used to Know
Meeting my Mayo Clinic neurologist as the real me, post autoimmune encephalitis.
- Jan 17
Freedom Ghost
Just recently, I listened to Brené Brown’s two-part podcast with Bono. It was amazing. Most of the conversation revolved around Bono’s...
- Jan 6
Let It Be
In August 2021, I went solo to my first ever TEDx event. And it was a game changer for me. I met a new friend group and was introduced to...
- Dec 20, 2022
O Little Town of Bethlehem
My childhood encompassed the late eighties through the nineties. I also grew up in a small town in North Dakota. In those days and in...
- Nov 28, 2022
Cleanin' Out My Closet
Remember that metaphorical blog I wrote about my alarm clock? It’s one of my favorites. The times, they are always a changin’, aren’t...
- Nov 6, 2022
Unstoppable
My favorite part of a flight is takeoff. I love that amazing feel of the combination of max speed and the moment you feel the lift. And...
- Oct 18, 2022
Chosen Family (Pt III)
I don’t have a lot of experience with meeting other AE patients and survivors. My cup of in-person exchanges runneth dry. The first...
- Oct 17, 2022
Chosen Family (Pt II)
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of this night for a long time. Maybe not during that first year where I struggled to survive, but...
- Oct 12, 2022
Chosen Family (Pt I)
The event was pure magic. Well maybe not magic, no one had a wand or cauldron or a Harry Potter robe, but it was the best night I...
- Sep 27, 2022
Suit and Jacket
It’s just a piece of paper. I can tell myself that. It’s a larger piece of thicker paper. With a beautiful green and gold, embossed...
- Sep 19, 2022
Big Time
It was the last book signing of the summer. I was driving home from Fargo in the early morning hours, to get back for the kids’ open...
- Sep 15, 2022
Angels Among Us
I’ll never forget the day I first met Jon. I was in a frazzle over our law office moving and I didn’t have an ergonomic desk or chair for...
- Sep 13, 2022
I Want More
I was finishing up my walk this morning. Fall is nearing, because I wore a thin, but long-sleeved shirt. I knew it would get hot later,...
- Sep 7, 2022
I Got You Babe
Just another day. Just another vial. Out of habit, start with the left arm and out of necessity, move to the right. One more appointment....
- Aug 17, 2022
Turn! Turn! Turn!
Four years. Four years and a few months since that fateful Tuesday when I gave away my DUI case to Lloyd, somehow knowing that I couldn’t...
- Aug 7, 2022
Livin' on a Prayer
Leave it to me to bring out a twenty-year-old t-shirt to wear on the second day of the trip. I’ve always been one to find the hilarity in...
- Jul 18, 2022
Amazing Grace
Stop me if you’ve heard this one. After I sat for the second day of the bar on a sunny July day in 2009, I walked through the parking lot...
- Jun 29, 2022
Dog Days Are Over
If FUBR’s been around since WWII, I can imagine that “shit happens” was a thing long before I remember it being such a hit in the movie...
- Jun 15, 2022
Beautiful Day
I know I cursed God along the recovery way. I absolutely did. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This is what you do to me?” But the only time I really...
- May 26, 2022
I Can See Clearly Now
May 26, 2022 Dear May 26, 2018-Jackie: Today is one of the worst days you’ve lived through in your life, but you’ll hardly remember it....
- May 10, 2022
Your Song
“Life always kind of works out,” said my counselor to me a while back. I so badly wanted to argue, and say, Notta. But it really got me...
- Apr 26, 2022
Down With the Sickness
We’ve all heard the saying, “That’s about as fun as a colonoscopy.” Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say it, but I’m going...
- Apr 5, 2022
I Take My Chances
You’ll recall I’ve turned to high waisted pants these days. I don’t move as quickly as I used to. And I’m starting to embarrass my kids....
- Mar 29, 2022
I'm Alive
It’s hard to know where to begin in my relationship with her, but I think this story is best. She doesn’t live too far from me, and...
- Mar 22, 2022
Hello
Yesterday I was listening to a podcast about why blogging is important for your speaking career. (Yip, I’m that awesome. I wasn’t out...
- Mar 14, 2022
Time Marches On
I have no idea when, but once when I was younger, I asked my dad why we had to change time during the year. He told me very matter of...
- Feb 28, 2022
Hold On II
I penned the “Hold On” blog over a month ago. I write blogs in real time, but don’t always post them that quickly. I finally published it...
- Feb 17, 2022
Hold On
Q: What do you do for a living? A: I’m a professional patient. Truly. That’s why I do with a lot of my days. I go to the doctor. Q: Do...
- Feb 2, 2022
I Want to Hold Your Hand
I am a very social person. Truly, one of the most social people I know. In law school, I became close with someone who was the shyest...
- Jan 11, 2022
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
I couldn’t quit staring out the window. I just sat there and kept blankly looking. But I was smiling. For sure on the outside and...
- Jan 3, 2022
Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow
It’s New Year’s Eve Day, and I’m doing what others around the world are doing – pondering where I will party tonight. Yeah right, in my...
- Dec 29, 2021
One Headlight
“That’s a big deal and you’re incredibly stupid for standing in the middle of a dark road,” she said as she laughed hard and flashed me a...
- Dec 20, 2021
I'll Be Home for Christmas
I often wonder what it would be like to go back in time and watch myself as a kid. As my kids grow, I’ve become obsessed with asking my...
- Dec 9, 2021
Crocodile Rock
I’ve been in serious contemplation about whether I’m going through a midlife crisis, with my wearing navy blazers and high waisted,...
- Dec 7, 2021
It's a Big Ol' Goofy World
While growing up, the “worst” thing to happen at home was Dad going grocery shopping. No matter what, no matter the season, Dad came back...
- Nov 16, 2021
The House That Built Me (Part II)
“You know they say, you can’t go home again. But I just want to come back one last time.” As my brain had already checked me out of life...
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