ron stempkowski

Best Foot Forward: Celebrating Ken’s 60th

Posted on July 26, 2025July 26, 2025 by Ron Stempkowski

I’ve written about my late husband, Ken, many times here. In fact, writing about him and our experience together with his cancer was a coping mechanism that served me well since his re-diagnosis in ... Read More

For the Love of Her

Posted on April 15, 2025April 15, 2025 by Ron Stempkowski

I flew to Los Angeles over the weekend to attend my sister-in-law Katie’s memorial. Even seeing it writing or saying it out loud still doesn’t quite compute for me. This was a trip I looke... Read More

Rediscovering Zen

Posted on January 19, 2025 by Ron Stempkowski

Last month marks two years since I said goodbye to my sweet puppy girl, Kallie. Our ten-and-a-half-year life together shaped a lot of who I am. As I wrote after her death, she boldly shepherded me fro... Read More

Outside of Space and Time

Posted on December 1, 2024December 1, 2024 by Ron Stempkowski

The world is grayer. The stars have lost their sparkle. Sharp edges have dulled. And my heart has another fissure, bleeding more love and all things good with the death of my sister-in-law and friend,... Read More

Welcome Home, Hudson

Posted on November 24, 2024October 31, 2025 by Ron Stempkowski

Following a distinguished line of well-loved pups, I brought Hudson home after a short road trip to Wisconsin yesterday. I’d been thinking about it for over a year, making lists and preparing. Then,... Read More

Ready, Aim, Fire…Oops

Posted on November 8, 2024November 8, 2024 by Ron Stempkowski

I wasn’t completely surprised that the orange felon won the election. This country is blatantly infected with ignorant and barely-masked racism and misogyny (even by women voting against their own b... Read More

POV: A Hike at Starved Rock State Park

Posted on July 7, 2024July 7, 2024 by Ron Stempkowski

The Thirteenth June 1

Posted on June 1, 2024June 1, 2024 by Ron Stempkowski

Year after year this date greets me in many different way I can never accurately predict. It used to feel like an attack—an onslaught of sadness and so many other overwhelming feelings. I dreaded th... Read More

And then the Universe Winked…

Posted on May 7, 2024May 24, 2024 by Ron Stempkowski

“Now that we have a quiet moment,” the volunteer coordinator at the library said to me, pulling me aside in the momentary lull of our book sale. A normally jovial woman got very serious for a mome... Read More

Where Dreams Live

Posted on April 28, 2024April 28, 2024 by Ron Stempkowski

Since returning to work after a week off, partially spent in the natural beauty of Door County, Wisconsin, I’ve thought a lot about the feelings of simplicity and wholeness I experienced there. ... Read More

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