Taxi
Fall is a season of favorites. It’s my favorite season. Enjoy your days. And make sure you find time to stop and smell the sunflowers.
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- Sep 9
Symptom of Being Human
Because I dearly love Kate Bowler, Humanities has asked me to emcee Kate’s No Cure For Being Human, Brave Conversation, on October 10th!
- Sep 3
Girls
In my new life, I’m a much better mother than I ever would have been.
- Aug 19
Without Me
It will continue to change my life. And by the grace of God, the lives of others.
- Jun 10
Bridge Over Troubled Water
If you know me or follow my social media, then you know I believe that every single thing that comes out of Kate Bowler’s mouth is...
- May 28
Unwritten
That’s possibly why I feel so pulled to mark my anniversary of AE symptom and seizure free on May 26th by climbing.
- May 1
Walking on Sunshine
“Summer’s coming.” I’ve been repeating this to myself quite a bit over the past two months. Summer is coming. Realistically speaking....
- Apr 25
Are You Ready?
It’s hard to represent a story that was a lifetime in the making, in one small 9ish by 6ish inch dimension, that’s made even tinier online.
- Apr 2
The River
Phill was the bravest, humblest, SuRvivor, Recoverer, and Rebuilder I’ll ever know.
- Mar 19
Cover of the Rolling Stone
At my “premier” event where I debuted my “TED Talk” in front of a full crowd at our local state college, during the Q and A, one woman...
- Feb 27
Save Us All
One of the most meaningful things I’ve ever heard came from my friend Becky’s funeral last fall. (I wrote about Becky when I took her to...
- Jan 30
Blessed
On Saturday it hit me. Like it really hit me. When Sean said, “It’s this weekend.” And I said, “My birthday is this weekend?!?”...
- Jan 9
A New Day Has Come
I love the pictures of sixteen-year-olds when they’re happiest. And when they feel like life is just beginning. We’ve all seen it on our...
- Dec 12, 2023
Step Into Christmas
I still listen to the radio when I’m driving our kid car. So yip, this is me over here, listening to the radio while cruising (and no,...
- Nov 22, 2023
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...
- Nov 7, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
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, 2023
Somebody That I Used to Know
Meeting my Mayo Clinic neurologist as the real me, post autoimmune encephalitis.
- Jan 17, 2023
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, 2023
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...
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