As I write this, I’m away at the Santa Sabina retreat center for the annual retreat with my calligraphy guild, the Friends of Calligraphy. Twelve years ago I came to Santa Sabina for my very first FOC retreat, and I’ve missed only one in the years since. This retreat holds a sacred spot on my calendar.

My first year, though, was less than wonderful, for reasons that had nothing to do with the retreat itself, and everything to do with me.

Back in 2002, the spousal support that had been filling in the gaps in my income since my divorce in ’99 had just ended with the New Year, and I was in a mad, desperate scramble [Read more…]