It hits me suddenly. I start to gasp. I am trying to breath, but I can't stop gasping, and I'm getting dizzy. I sit down on a bench and the tears start to roll. I make myself breathe-- in, two, three, four, hold, two, three, four, out, two, three... It takes a few minutes of … Continue reading Never again
I haven't been posting a lot of pictures from Japan. There are many good reasons to do it: to let friends and family know that I am fine, and having fun; to entertain the many people who tell me they are living this trip vicariously through me; to reflect on the day by looking and … Continue reading Pics or It Didn’t Happen
"Just grab an Uber," he said. I was debating how to get from the airport to my hotel in Chennai the next day. I didn't answer. It wasn't worth the argument. But I knew I wouldn't take an Uber. It reminded me of the video that went around a few months ago, where the speaker … Continue reading SWF, Travelling Solo
I've had a pain in my chest, on and off for the last two days. I try to think of anything I might have done to strain muscles. Playing pinball? I hadn't done that for years. Maybe deconditioning, after not going to the gym for two weeks? I climb to the top of the dome … Continue reading Uncoupling
A lot can happen in a week. Last Monday, the offer on the house came in. And today I sit in the Vancouver airport, waiting for my flight to London. I marvel at what was accomplished in that time. A house was sorted, packed, and moved into storage. Items were sold, donated and recycled. It … Continue reading The People who Sustain Me- Part 2
Today the house was sold. There is an accepted offer, at any rate, which will most likely complete. When I look at the calendar I see that the house has only been listed for three weeks. It seems much longer-- I think sorting through the physical remanents of a 30 year relationship, all the while … Continue reading Saying Goodbye
Two weeks before I set out on the next 6 week instalment of my brave travels, I try to decide what to keep. Out of the accumulation of a lifetime, out of the contents of a 3000 square foot house, what will come with me into the future? What is precious enough to put in … Continue reading What Stays and What Goes?
I thought I was patient, until I became a teacher. Then I began to really learn what patience was. And when I believed I had truly learned it, I had a child... And now, in this age of smartphones, Netflix and Google, I feel I have forgotten how to be patient, how to wait. My … Continue reading Learning to Wait
A few years ago, I spoke to a hundred or so young women about courage. I started by talking about shared experiences-- a rough plane ride, the zip line at the outdoor education camp we all went to, skiing on a slope that was too steep and icy. And each time I asked them to … Continue reading It’s Not Brave if You’re Not Scared
A friend request on Facebook came in from a stranger, so I messaged him, thinking he had meant it for the "other" Kathryn H. (Yes, my last name is so rare, particularly in combination with an English/Scottish first name, that there are only two of us in the world.) That prompted me to search Facebook, … Continue reading Who is Kathryn H?
Brave Travels 