Judy Richter

The stages of grief are apparently predictable and treatable…some doctors say there are seven, but most agree there are five distinct stages to wallow through (my words) to recovery. I awoke this morning feeling dirty, defiled. I realized that by allowing myself to be goaded into reacting to a nasty and deeply personal internet article…

I feel so disappointed that I am compelled to revisit this topic one more time, especially since I thought that the whole ugly, mean-spirited matter had fizzled out like a defective sparkler on the Fourth of July. K and I have moved on with our lives and have focused our consciousness on the good people…

As the weeks, days and minutes tick by since the invasion (for lack of a better word), K and I have been challenged with a myriad of emotions, ranging from euphoric gratitude to depth-defying depression.  The down-side of the emotional spectrum is visited most often by me, truth be told.  K, who hobbles around one-legged…

Often when I close my eyes now after our horrific home invasion, I see little black Ninja heads bobbing and weaving in the darkened doorway of my bedroom. Suddenly one of them lunges, landing on top of me to grab the cell that I am frantically trying to dial under the covers. I hear my…

I think that everyone has experienced at least one life threatening moment when time seems to stand still for an endless succession of minutes ticking silently by.  I had one of those last night, when I ventured out to my herb garden to snip some parsley for a dish I was making for Karl’s b-day…

Anyone who met Rica loved her instantly. No ifs, ands, or buts. It was impossible not to. She was the personification of love, coaxing anyone sitting in her reach to pet her by nudging their hands with her cold, wet nose. More please…more. RIca adopted us a little over two years ago when we took…

Perhaps…but only on the transcendental level. I have struggled with the concept of emotional closure for many years, decades even. I used to believe, as recently as last year, that closure of interpersonal misunderstandings was essential to my spiritual evolution and tranquility. But alas, I have begrudgingly come to accept that my own personal definition…

No matter how old you are or where you live on this planet, there is no way to escape the effects of the raging dissonance of our culture, which has become so pervasive that it is now considered mainstream. And before I proceed, a caveat…I am not talking about red vs. blue politics, or even…

A quick anecdote too rich not to share. As I recover from my reconstructive demolition derby aka surgery, I have sought solace in the soothing tropical flowers and foliage that surround our little paradise. Costa Rica is a beautiful country rich with compassionate, loving people (for the most part). There is no army here, just…