The purpose
I write about my experiences and others’ as a way to process emotions; celebrate love, hope, and strength; bring attention to societal problems; and help people understand that they’re not alone. The effects of COVID-19 are making this an extremely difficult time for millions of people: from those who have lost loved ones and those who have lost their jobs, to those whose mental health issues are exacerbated and those whose living situation or work environment has become even more stressful or dangerous than it was previously.
Before the pandemic, my goals with sharing my poems were to be able to help at least one person out there who is struggling, in pain, and looking for a glimmer of hope; and to provide different perspectives on the world around us. Now that we are in the midst of a global crisis, my goals remain the same.
Thank you for visiting my site.
I hope you find something here that speaks to you.
What is “Delphinidae”?
“Delphinidae” is the scientific name of the family of moderate to small-sized toothed whales including oceanic dolphins, pilot whales, and orcas. I had the amazing opportunity to study bottlenose dolphins in North Carolina and orcas in British Columbia, and although my dream of doing this for a living never materialized, I am still inspired by their beauty, playful spirit, intelligence, family bonds, and strength, often in the face of adversity.
About me
I live in southern Maine with my husband, two teenage boys, our dog, whom we adopted through a rescue group, and our cat, whom we adopted from the Humane Society. I’m not a big fan of winter, and I hate being cold (yeah, I know, I just said I live in Maine), but I love it that my home state provides me with plenty of space and many opportunities to hike and be near (and sometimes in) the water. I’m passionate about human rights, social justice, and protecting the Earth, which includes taking care of all creatures, great and small. I’m also a musician, singer, and songwriter. To stay sane, I do yoga and – when not in lockdown because of a pandemic – I play field hockey with the Portland Field Hockey Club. I also volunteer with Labs4Rescue during non-pandemic times.
Current causes
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®), 6.5 million companion animals enter animal shelters every year. If you’re thinking about getting a new pet, please consider adopting an unwanted animal who would not otherwise have a home. Labs4rescue is just one of many groups doing fantastic work, but I’m particularly fond of them because they brought my family Franklin (pictured here). He passed away in 2019 after a long and happy life, and I miss him immensely.
Domestic abuse is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship, and these behaviors can include physical and/or emotional and verbal abuse. COVID-19 has made it even more difficult for those who are being abused to find a way to escape abusive situations. The National Domestic Violence Hotline, which is always open and is free, is one of many nonprofits that are there to help.
COVID-19 has put extra pressure on struggling families and on local food banks that are trying to keep up with their communities’ needs. Feeding America is one of many nonprofits tackling this problem. It launched a Covid-19 Response Fund to help ensure food banks across the country can feed those in need right now, including the children who rely on school meals to eat.
The Nature Conservancy, which is one of many nonprofits working to keep our planet healthy, focuses on conserving land and water. This nonprofit has a very long history of protecting lands, rivers, lakes and oceans. They also collaborate with partner organizations in the field and with governments and other influencers to inform policy decisions and direct public funding toward conservation efforts.