Category Archives: Memoires

Rashomon Series: Jewel Dunn’s River Resort, Jamaica

Doing something a little different for today’s memoires, inspired by one of my favorite stories, Rashomon. I hope to make a habit of it. The idea is to occasionally solicit the thoughts and opinions of others who have tread the same path as me, but (inevitably) they bring a different perspective. End result: you getContinue reading “Rashomon Series: Jewel Dunn’s River Resort, Jamaica”

Mohonk Mountain House, New York

Some families have summer homes, vacation rentals, timeshares. We weren’t set up like that — rather on the frugal side — but we did have a place we loved to visit (and not be so frugal) when the savings account was full enough: Mohonk Mountain House. Mountain House is a “Victorian castle resort” in theContinue reading “Mohonk Mountain House, New York”

JCMU: The Road to Japan Not Taken

I was a junior at Michigan State University when the plan hatched its little egg self in my brain. I couldn’t think of anything that I’d ever decided to do with my life that was as bold as this. Living and studying in Japan, who does that? This girl! And maybe 2.73 million other people.Continue reading “JCMU: The Road to Japan Not Taken”

Road Trip Rituals: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)

A zombie amusement park sounds like fun, but the health code violations alone are enough to turn your stomach. Jim C. Hines We step in line. A sign several feet ahead: “The wait time is approximately 1 hour.” “Only an hour! Let’s do it!” Naively telling ourselves that they’re overestimating. At the very least, someContinue reading “Road Trip Rituals: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)”

Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland

My favorite place in Ireland is a place I never intended to visit. We hadn’t highlighted it in our maps, travel guides, or list of “must-dos”; in fact, we had intended to spend that day driving along the famous Ring of Kerry. Granted, the entire trip was loosely drawn — this was our Women’s Walkabout,Continue reading “Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland”

Have Hearing Loss, Will Travel

Deaf people can do anything hearing people can do, except hear. Dr. I. King Jordan I grew up not being bothered too much with the world around me; the more exciting stuff was going on in my head. I trusted that, if it was ever really important, my sister and parents would steer me inContinue reading “Have Hearing Loss, Will Travel”

Birth-Month Celebrations: An Origin Story

Of all my childhood memories, what has touched my adulthood the most is my absolute love for birthdays. One of the most wonderful and enchanting traditions was the presenting of the gifts. Dad would go upstairs to their bedroom, and we would sit on the couch in the living room, waiting with anticipation. Mom wouldContinue reading “Birth-Month Celebrations: An Origin Story”

Kimonos and Paper Parasols

As much as my visits to see my grandparents in New Jersey planted the seed, it was my grandmother on my father’s side who nurtured the soil and inspired me to see the other side of the world. Grandma and Grandpa H were one of those Edward Albee couples, constantly bickering and jabbing at oneContinue reading “Kimonos and Paper Parasols”

Road Trip Rituals: New Jersey

Over the River and Through the Woods I’m pretty sure this is why it started. You know “it”: that tickle in the gut when you see a picture of a sunset, the lightness of being when you hear a foreign language, the weight in your chest whenever you hear a plane flying above you orContinue reading “Road Trip Rituals: New Jersey”