Becoming a Dog Grandma
My darkest, most disappointing summer had a silver lining. Unexpectedly, our daughter adopted a rescue dog named Bluey, and instantly, I became a dog grandma. Her Bluey, named for the anthropomorphic character in the Australian animated television series, gave our pediatrician daughter instant credibility with the kiddos she treats in her practice. The medium-sized, two-year-old […]
Celebrating Sacred Cows in Switzerland
Though I lived in a gym, not a barn, I grew up in a farm community and have always shared a country kid’s appreciation for the livestock and land. I was raised in Sterling, Illinois, a farm and mill town, nestled in fertile soil on the banks of the Rock River. Today, I live in […]
When Real Life Hits, Change Plans, Pick Up the Pieces, Keep Plugging
I’ve spent more time living abroad than I have been a US resident, so why now, fifty years later, after dozens of flights, was I scared to fly alone? Walking through an airport after a traumatic brain injury (TBI), with the bright lights, loud sounds and noisy crowds, is like bouncing around in a pinball […]
Wanted A Dog – Got A Chamois Instead
My best friend Skippy died the year I moved to Europe. Ever since I lost my childhood sidekick decades ago, I have longed to own a dog! But ze Frenchman was adamant, “Dog or me!” Well, that’s a no-brainer! I’ll never forfeit my number one chef, chauffeur, work-out partner, hiking buddy, electro-technician and soulmate for […]
I am
X-Pat, a feisty globetrotter. Teacher, writer, coach, speaker, and trailblazer with the down-to-earth, open-armed persona of The Heartland and a European twist. I have lived in four different countries, speak three languages and raised two bi-cultural kids with one très bon Frenchman. My passion is inspiring courage, breaking barriers, and creating connections.
Down and out? Hopeless and helpless? No matter where you are in your journey, my stories can help pick up your spirits, make transitions, gain new perspectives or just escape the daily grind.
If you deny a woman’s history, you erase her identity. I reveal the athlete’s untold story, from the passage of Title IX through forty years of social change. What makes it different from other sport biographies is the voice of a woman who walks the talk, who dribbled the ball and tells the story. Learn more by clicking here