Don’t Stop Believin’… In My Dad’s Olympic Dreams

Curling is a game of inches – and of split seconds. – Ernie Richardson

Some dads watch the Winter Olympics and think, “Wow, those athletes are incredible.” My dad watches the Winter Olympics and thinks, “My daughter. The Olympian.”

Before I could blink, he had already called the entire Melgreen family—siblings, aunts, uncles, people I haven’t seen since Journey came out with their number one hit “Don’t Stop Believing” to inform them to start saving up, as they are going to France in 2030. No excuses. Why? Because they would all be attending the Winter Olympics to watch me win gold in curling. Or, at the very least, “show up and represent the Melgreen name with dignity.”

I laughed. I thought it was adorable. Sweet. Classic cheerleader dad energy. The kind of delusional confidence only a parent can have in their child, especially a child who has never curled a day in her life and whose winter sport experience consists of falling on her butt while snowboarding and apologizing to the stranger I accidentally slide into when I tried to stop without falling down. Instead, I landed on top of the stranger, not the worst way to meet a guy, but definitely not the behavior of a future Olympic star.

But he wasn’t joking. Not even a little.

The next thing I know, he’s standing in front of me with a confirmation email letting me know, “Your first curling practice is April 25th at 2:30 PM at Coyote Curling Club.” Lucky for me, it happens to be the only curling facility in Arizona. Fifteen minutes from our house. “Perfect.”

And that was that. No matter what plans existed that day, errands, work, social life, and the possibility of a nap, curling was now on the schedule. My father had spoken it into existence. His daughter was going to be a curler, and the universe would simply have to adjust.

Because here’s the thing: curling didn’t just appear one day when someone got bored on a frozen pond. It began in Scotland, way back in the 1500s, when people decided that sliding giant stones (they like to call Rocks) across ice was not only a sport but a lifestyle. They even found old curling rocks in the bottom of the ghostly floors of long-silent lochs, which means Scottish ancestors were out there centuries ago doing exactly what I’m doing now: trying not to fall, trying to look coordinated, and hoping someone was impressed.

Thanks to my dad, I can now go to Scotland and say with confidence, “Put me in Coach” with a dramatic hair flip. I am, after all, practically returning to the motherland of my new sport.

When April 25th arrived, my dad watched me with the kind of pride usually reserved for graduations, weddings, or the moment a toddler successfully uses the potty for the first time. Meanwhile, I stepped onto the ice looking less like a future Olympian and more like a confused left-handed bowler who wandered into the wrong sports facility.

I swung my leg around. I didn’t line up straight. My hips had their own agenda. Honestly, I don’t even draw a straight line with a ruler, so expecting my body to suddenly understand geometry felt ambitious. But then came the sweeping.

Let me tell you something: sweeping in curling is not like sweeping your kitchen floor. It’s not even like sweeping a soaked kitchen floor in socks, which is already a hazard. It’s like trying to Swiffer your kitchen floor while moonwalking sideways on ice, chasing a 40‑pound rock that has absolutely zero concern for your survival.

And the rocks? They’re everywhere. Like landmines. But colder. At one point, I tried to avoid falling on one rock, only to fall in a way that should honestly qualify as a Cirque du Soleil audition. My knees hit each other, my legs went in opposite directions, and I landed in a backwards split that I absolutely did not do on purpose. I can now say with certainty: Sweeping is not in my skill set. And my knees agree.

And here’s the wildest part: despite doing everything my way (which the coach repeatedly reminded me was “not standard,” “not ideal,” and “not technically illegal, so… fine”), I was the only one who actually got the rock into the house. Let me repeat that. Me. The sideways‑shuffling, hip‑rogue, geometry‑defying, Swiffer‑on‑ice disaster. The girl who fell into a backwards split, trying not to fall on a rock. The one who met a stranger in her past by crash‑landing on him like a malfunctioning human airbag. I cannot stress this enough. I was able to get the rock in the house. Everyone else had form. Technique. Balance. Dignity. I had… vibes. And apparently, vibes were enough.

My dad nearly levitated. The coach looked like he was questioning every certification he’d ever earned. And I stood there, trying to act like I meant to do it, even though my internal monologue was just me screaming, “HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?”

But hey, results are results. And if doing it “wrong” gets the rock in the house, then maybe I’m not wrong at all. Maybe I’m just… innovative. A curling prodigy with unorthodox methods. A pioneer of chaotic technique. A future Olympic legend whose hips simply refuse to follow instructions. Honestly, Scotland should be honored that I’m coming to sub in.

Thanks, Dad. You really were onto something.

Maybe I’ll never master the art of lining up straight. Maybe my hips will always do their own interpretive dance. Maybe my sweeping form will forever resemble a startled raccoon with a Swiffer.

But I’ll tell you this: There is something magical about having someone who believes in you so fiercely, so irrationally, so wholeheartedly, that they sign you up for a sport you’ve never tried and tell the whole family to prepare for your gold medal ceremony. Everyone deserves a cheerleader like that. And if nothing else, I can now say, truthfully, proudly, and with a dramatic flourish… I am a curler. Even if I look like a bowler doing it. Better get your tickets now. France, here I come.

Morals: 1) Doing things “your way” may not be traditional, but if the coach can’t technically call it illegal, it counts. 2) You don’t have to be an Olympian to feel like one. Sometimes all it takes is showing up, trying your best, and having someone cheer like you’ve already won gold.

Japan: Where Normal Went to Die and I Thrived

Cherish each moment because it will never be repeated. – Captain Jean-Luc Picard

Some people go to Japan for the temples, the culture, the food, the history.
I went for all of that, and somehow still ended up in a sex club, talking to dinosaur robots, and learning that yes, you can fit over 100 people into an elevator if there’s a tiny human whose entire job is to shove bodies into place like Tetris pieces.

Japan didn’t just welcome me.

Japan said, “Oh, you’re weird? Perfect. Let’s play.”

My journey began with rain. Everyone around me pulled out their perfectly coordinated clear umbrellas, a synchronized ballet of practicality. I danced, no umbrella in sight. People stared with their mouths open, probably thinking, “This one is defective. Return to sender.” But rain is an anomaly in Arizona. When it touches my skin, I feel alive. So I danced harder. In that moment, I felt like I told Japan, “Game on.”

Japan took that personally.

Later in the trip, it decided to test my directional abilities, even with Google Maps. I saw a massage place just two minutes away and thought, Perfect. Easy win. It was not.

I got lost. Not “oops, wrong turn” lost. More like “Google Maps is drunk, and the streets are a Möbius strip” lost. I circled the same corner at least twelve times. People complain about Lombard Street in San Francisco, but this was another level, with narrow, winding streets surrounded by skyscrapers that all looked identical.

Google Translate tried to help, but the directions I got led me right back to where I started. Turns out the place was on a staircase behind the building I was in front of, which required four turns and two more streets to reach. By the time I got there, I needed a massage to recover from trying to find the massage, like a pre‑game stretch, but for my sanity. But it truly was the best I’ve ever had.

Japan taught me many things, but nothing prepared me for the elevator experience. Picture this:
A crowd of over 100 people. One elevator. And a tiny, determined elevator attendant whose job was to physically pack us in. I have never been so close to strangers in my life. I achieved spiritual union with at least three of them. which is why I am glad I went to Hakone and learned the story about the famous black egg prior to entering the elevator. The legend goes that eating the black egg supposedly adds years to one’s life. I ate one, so I’m basically immortal now. So thanks, Japan, for helping expand my life.

Kyoto was sacred, serene, and somehow still chaotic in a way that matched my energy. There, I learned that Japan has spas for everything. Tea bath? Check. Red wine bath? Check. Beer bath? Check.
Sake bath? Absolutely. At one point, I realized I was basically marinating myself like a very relaxed, slightly tipsy pot roast who occasionally got up to sing and dance. I was on top of the world.

Then came the moment:
I lit a candle for Buddha.
It fell into the sand.
It left a mark.
The only one that did.

I panicked. I asked what it meant. No one knew; it had never happened before.

They told me it could mean whatever I wanted it to mean.
So I chose:
That I was special.
That I was open to love and good fortune.
That I could handle whatever came my way.

And then, suddenly, I was surrounded by six women monks, smiling at me like I had just unlocked a spiritual side quest. I didn’t even know women monks existed. Not everyone gets to see them, let alone be encircled by them. In that moment, I felt Japan calling a truce. A quiet message: You’re going to be okay. Believe in yourself. Your future is yours.

While tourists were lining up to take the perfect shot of a temple or Mt. Fuji, I took photographs of traffic cones that looked like giant cheddar cheese wedges, Six‑foot‑tall traffic cones that made zero sense, Toilet‑instruction signs that read like IKEA manuals for your butt, and Business names so whimsical they sounded like they were generated by a toddler with a sugar high, as ” Boo Boo Park” for one’s car. At first, people stared. Then they laughed. Then something magical happened: they started sending me their whimsical finds.

“Linzie, look! A sign that says “Thong Thia!”
“Thought of you, here’s a picture of a cone shaped like a wizard hat.”
“I knew you’d appreciate this toilet diagram.”

They trusted that someone else would capture the temple or the cherry blossom tree.
But the weird stuff?
That was my department.

That reputation was further solidified when I went out dancing and discovered, mid‑groove, that the club also had a sex club in the back, as indicated by the sign that read: Bar Sex. I left with my dignity intact and my curiosity aggressively confused.

The next day, I wandered into a hotel lobby seeking restaurant recommendations from two front‑desk attendants dressed as dinosaurs… only to realize they were animatronic creatures stationed there to charm guests as they navigated the self‑check‑in screens. Japan, once again, refuses to be ordinary. Just the way it should be.

One of the most beautiful moments of the trip was lying under the stars near Tokyo Tower, watching the capital building light up in an electronic show with mi hermana, Yenzully. I’ve known her since childhood and have only seen her twice in twenty years. Her stopping by Japan so we could spend a day together meant everything. She is the perfect partner in chaos, just the right amount of whimsical to match mine. Making Japan the perfect place for us to reunite.

Japan wasn’t normal. Japan refused to be normal. Japan looked at me and said, “Let’s make this trip as strange, magical, chaotic, and unforgettable as you are.” And it did. Everywhere I went, something unexpected happened, not because I was unlucky, but because the universe was matching my energy. Whimsical. Unscripted. One‑of‑a‑kind. Just like me.

And who could forget the day I drove a go‑kart through the streets of Tokyo dressed as Stitch from Lilo & Stitch. Yes, an actual go‑kart. On actual streets. With actual traffic. And me, an adult woman in a blue alien onesie, puttering along like chaos on wheels.

My go‑kart stalled twice at a light, which is humbling in ways therapy can’t prepare you for. Each time it sputtered out, I could feel the judgment of every taxi driver within a three‑block radius. At one point, I accidentally honked the horn, which we were specifically told not to do, and the sound echoed through the intersection, calling out my whereabouts to the police.

I was profoundly grateful we had a guide and were required to drive in two neat little lines, because without that human breadcrumb trail, I would’ve been lost somewhere between Shibuya and a parallel universe. The irony? I am cautioned not to drive in the States because of my seizures, yet there I was, cruising Tokyo traffic like a Disney character who had escaped the theme park.

It was ridiculous.
It was exhilarating.
It was me, fully and unapologetically, in Japan.

Morals: 1) Beauty isn’t always sacred or serious: sometimes it’s absurd, tiny, and hiding in plain sight. 2) Never assume the front desk employees are human. 3) You don’t have to understand a moment for it to matter. 4) The world mirrors the energy you bring to it. 5) If a club feels “too fun,” double-check the back room. 6) Don’t forget to take pictures of stuff that makes you smile and laugh; someone else will always get the tourist pictures.

Magic, Medicine, and the Girl Who Refused to Stay Broken

We never loss our demons. We only learn to live above them. – The Ancient One

Today I went to a Marvel Orchestra movie event with one mission: embody Mighty Thor. Not just “Thor with a hammer,” but full Jane Foster energy: powerful, luminous, worthy. I had the vision. I had the enthusiasm. I even had the tiny prop Mjölnir, which I lovingly wear around my neck. What I did not have was the final look I expected.

Somewhere between getting dressed, adjusting my hair, and trying to channel celestial goddess energy, I ended up looking less like Mighty Thor and more like Doctor Strange, who killed Thorg and was wearing his tiny hammer around my neck for a good chuckle. Not exactly the heroic aesthetic I was going for. But honestly? It was perfect.

I called my friend for an emergency outfit evaluation, and that’s when it hit me: I had missed the mark by a whole multiverse. But he reminded me that there’s always that moment, the one right after you realize things went sideways. where you get to choose. You can panic, start over, spiral, or bail. Or you can shrug, laugh, and say, “Well, this is who I am today.”

I chose the second option. And it made the whole experience better.

And honestly, maybe it makes sense that I ended up looking more like Doctor Strange than Mighty Thor. Because out of all the Marvel characters, he’s the one whose story mirrors mine the most.

Most people watch Doctor Strange and see a man traveling across galaxies to fix his hands.
I watch him and think, Yeah… I get it.

He wasn’t just searching for magic. He was searching for himself, the version of him that existed before everything shattered. And that part hits home. Because while he was learning spells in distant dimensions, I was going through my own transformation right here on Earth. Not the glamorous, swirling-portals kind. The medical kind. The terrifying kind. The kind where you don’t get a cloak that flies, but you do get a piece of your skull turned into a necklace because a device had to be implanted in your head to track seizures. It’s not exactly Marvel merch, but it’s definitely one-of-a-kind.

Doctor Strange had to rebuild his identity after trauma. So did I. He had to relearn how to trust his body. So did I. He had to face the fear that he might never be who he once was. And I’ve lived that fear too.

But here’s the part that matters: He didn’t go back to who he was. He became someone new, someone stronger, stranger, wiser, and more powerful because of what he survived. I, too, have changed into someone much more whimsical, stronger, empathetic, and a wee bit wiser.

People think magic is all sparks and light shows. But real magic is quieter. It’s waking up after surgery and deciding to keep going. It’s learning to trust your body again after it betrayed you.
It’s wearing a piece of your own skull as jewelry and saying, “This is part of my story now.”
It’s surviving something that should have broken you — and then choosing to build yourself back anyway. Doctor Strange had the Eye of Agamotto. I had medical devices, resilience, and a stubborn refusal to quit. Different tools. Same fight.

So Here’s to Us

To the heroes who try.
To the heroes who improvise.
To the heroes who rebuild themselves.
To the heroes who laugh at their own chaos.
To the heroes who don’t need a perfect costume to be worthy.

We are all our own superheroes; messy, mismatched, magnificent.

And honestly? I wouldn’t trade my Doctor-Strange-who-murdered-Thorg mishap for anything.

Morals: 1) Going with the flow is its own kind of superpower. 2) Your energy, your real, unfiltered self, is what people connect with. 3) Your scars don’t diminish your worth; they prove your strength. 4) You are already a superhero; it is just a matter of believing it.

The Easter Bunny Grows Up: Now What?

Easter: the only time it’s okay to put all your eggs in one basket. – Evan Esar

Easter used to be all about the hunt.

As kids, we’d sprint around the yard like sugar‑fueled detectives, convinced the Easter Bunny had a personal vendetta against us by hiding eggs in increasingly impossible places, even forgetting to put chocolate in some. We’d spend all day searching, only to discover two or three eggs months later—sun‑bleached, half‑melted, and absolutely not something anyone should open indoors, but we didn’t care; what are a few more germs anyway? Back then, the thrill was in the chase, not the chocolate, well, not all in the chocolate.

There were school scavenger hunts, the kind where you learned, usually the hard way, the importance of reading directions. A lesson we will continue to learn for the rest of our lives. Nothing humbles a person faster than reaching the “final clue” only to realize it was supposed to be the first.

And somewhere along the way, between cursing the world for not letting us be adults and living on our own, to the day that “dream” became a reality, everything shifted, including Easter.

These days, Easter looks different. The Easter Bunny has retired from active duty, and the egg hunts have been replaced with something quieter, something softer. It’s less about the chase and more about gratitude. Less about the chocolate and more about the company, or better yet, the company I eat my chocolate with. I’ve aged into something else, someone who can sit still, be surrounded by love, and not feel bored.

But don’t worry, the chaos persists; just in a more adult, culinary form.

Every year, there’s that moment where you think, I am a chef. I can absolutely make a ham from scratch. And then reality taps you on the shoulder and gently reminds you that the Honey Baked Ham store exists for a reason. Their ham fits in the oven. Their ham doesn’t require a YouTube tutorial. Their ham doesn’t judge you. Their ham has one job: to be edible, and it excels at it every time. So you pick one up, feeling both relieved and slightly betrayed by your own ambition.

Then you figure, since the ham is taken care of, this is the time to try new recipes, like corn chowder, in the hopes the day will feel more special, even if it’s just for a small group. But maybe that’s part of the magic. Easter evolves, but the heart of it stays the same. It’s still about connection. It’s still about showing up. It’s still about appreciating the people who are there, whether that’s a crowd of twenty or a cozy group of three. You learn that even if you had ordered pizza or gotten Chinese takeout, the time together with those who matter would still be as wonderful, even without the fancy spread.

And no matter one’s religion or background, Easter offers a universal invitation: pause, reflect, and appreciate the journey. Appreciate the people who walk it with you. Appreciate the way life loops back on itself, teaching us the same lessons in new ways until we finally understand them.

Because in the end, everything circles back. The beginning becomes the ending, the ending becomes the beginning, and we, hopefully, become a little smarter, a little softer, and a lot more grateful along the way. Easter reminds us that no matter how we got here, we’re here. Together. And that’s worth celebrating.

Morals: 1) Love makes even the simplest moments feel special. 2) Easter becomes a reminder that love, in any form and any size, is worth pausing for.

Boom Ball: The Only Sport Where You Can’t Hate the Umpire

Never be afraid to try new things as life gets boring. – Unknown

The important thing to remember is that adventure is everywhere when you stay open to it.

There are a lot of things I expect when I buy lawn tickets to a sporting event: grass stains, questionable sightlines, and the occasional elbow from someone who thinks personal space is a myth. What I don’t expect is to find out, the day before the game, that those “lawn” tickets magically transformed into assigned seats. Assigned. Seats. I went from “bring a blanket and hope for the best” to “ma’am, your row is this way” in under 24 hours. Honestly, it felt like winning a tiny lottery I didn’t enter. But that’s Boom Ball for you. Nothing about it is normal, predictable, or remotely grounded in reality — and that’s exactly why it works.

I had plans to meet up with some people, but somewhere between the parking lot and the first inning, I remembered one of my favorite truths: sometimes the best way to have fun is to go off on your own. Not in a dramatic “I walk alone” way – more like “I’ll catch up with you later, I’m vibing.”

And Boom Ball is the perfect place to vibe. The energy is chaotic, the crowd is friendly, and the sport itself is basically what happens when baseball, Mario Kart, and a glow stick rave have a child.

So… What Is Boom Ball?

Imagine baseball. Now imagine someone looked at baseball and said, “Cute. But what if we added obstacles, tiny go-karts, bubble suits, and a glow-in-the-dark home run derby?”

That’s Boom Ball.

Players ride miniature go-karts to the bases
Then they climb into giant bubble balls to get to the next one
There are obstacles on the field, like it’s a competitive game show
And at some point, the lights go out, and everyone tries to hit as many home runs as possible in neon chaos

It’s athleticism meets absurdity, and somehow it works.

One of the best parts of the night wasn’t even the game — it was the people. I ended up meeting a bunch of the players, which already felt like a win. And these weren’t just random weekend warriors either. Some were even semi-celebrities, the kind of faces you recognize from Big Brother or Ninja Warrior, the ones who casually mention they hit game‑winning home runs in college like it’s no big deal. Others were professional athletes, including a legit professional softball player from Europe.

And because Boom Ball refuses to be normal for even one inning, they even brought out a major league softball player who went to the 2020 Olympics, from Arizona State University, no less, to throw pitches in one of the six innings. Just casually. As one does. But then I met one player’s mother and grandmother, who had come all the way from Iowa. They were the kind of warm, proud, salt-of-the-earth women who make you feel like you’ve known them for years. They told me stories about their all-star as if we were sitting in their living room instead of a stadium full of glowing baseballs and bumper-car energy. They were warm, funny, and instantly familiar — the kind of women who could make a stadium feel like a family reunion.

At one point, the player’s mother leaned in and said, “Don’t waste your time on my son. He’s a great guy, but he’s not developmentally ready for real stuff.”

I told her, “Well, you would know better than anyone — you’re his mother,” and we both burst out laughing. There’s something special about bonding with a stranger over the shared understanding that men can be delightful and also… not quite ready.

And then — the cherry on top — the umpire handed me a ball.

Let me repeat that: The umpire gave me a ball. I never thought I would say that an umpire can be my unexpected hero.

Boom Ball might be the only sport in existence where the umpire is universally loved. No boos, no heckling, no “get glasses!” Just pure appreciation for the brave soul trying to officiate a sport that looks like controlled chaos on wheels.

If Boom Ball taught me anything, it’s this: fun doesn’t just happen. You make it.

Whether you’re rolling solo, meeting strangers from Iowa, or catching a ball from the nicest umpire on Earth, the magic comes from leaning in, especially when the night doesn’t go as planned.

So here’s to lawn tickets that become assigned seats, to bubble-suited athletes, to unexpected friendships, and to sports that don’t take themselves too seriously. Boom Ball might not be the next Olympic event, but it’s definitely the next great story.

Morals: 1) Sometimes the best plans are the ones you didn’t plan. 2) People you meet by accident can make the night unforgettable. 3) You don’t need perfection for a perfect night.

Dating at 38: The Plot Twist No One Warned Me About

A True relationship is two unperfect people who refuse to give up on each other. – Unknown

There’s a strange kind of spotlight that turns on the moment a woman crosses 30 without a ring, a stroller, or a Pinterest board titled Our Rustic Barn Wedding with a picture of ASU’s mascot Sparky stomping the “Single bus”. It’s subtle at first—an eyebrow raise here, a “You’ll find someone!” there—but by 38, it becomes a full-blown Broadway production. People look at you like you’ve missed a train that everyone else somehow boarded in their twenties, and now you’re standing alone on the platform holding a caramel frappuccino and a questionable amount of emotional resilience.

And then there’s dating. Oh, dating.

I’ve dated at least 30 men—yes, I counted, because at some point it becomes data collection. I’ve been in relationships that lasted one day (don’t ask) to four years. I’ve tried the apps, the dating groups, the “this one is different” platforms. I’ve swiped, matched, chatted, ghosted, been ghosted, and once had a man tell me he “wasn’t ready for something serious” while actively shopping for engagement rings for someone else two months later.

And still, here I am. Single. Thirty-eight. No kids. No ring. No “we met in the produce aisle” story. Just me, my experiences, and a very impressive collection of emotional plot twists.

People love to ask why I’m still single at 38, as if I’ve been sitting in a tower waiting for a prince who got lost on the way. What they don’t know is that technically—technically—I’ve been proposed to, and I didn’t even know about it.

I found out years later during a fight at Hooters. Yes, Hooters. Because apparently nothing says “life revelation” like tank tops and orange short shorts. My friend, who lived in another state, who was actively dating other people (me not included), got mad and blurted out that he had proposed.

“When?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“At our 21st birthday party. I made the big declaration of how grateful I was to have you in my life and got on my knees and asked that you be in my life forever.”

To which I responded, “The friendship ring? The ring you said at least ten times during your speech was just a “friendship ring.”
A ring I thought meant, you know, friendship. Meanwhile, he apparently thought he was offering me a lifetime commitment disguised as a trinket from the “Buy One, Get One” from Macy’s, where his mother worked. I had to explain that proposals generally work best when both people are actually in a relationship and aware enough of it to even start imagining a wedding.

I’m not sure what’s worse: that he proposed without telling me, or that I somehow missed my own engagement.

But that wasn’t even the strangest ring situation I’ve had.

I once got a high school ring from a man so focused on his career that he had me sleep in his car while he worked instead of taking me to my college courses so I could expand my horizons. Imagine being 19, wearing a man’s ring, and napping in the backseat of a car like a forgotten gym bag while he chased his ambitions. Romantic, right? It’s wild how someone can promise you forever, yet struggle to keep even the smallest promises in the everyday moments that actually build a life together.

There’s also the special category of heartbreak: the man who genuinely likes you, maybe even loves you, but can’t make it happen. Wrong timing. Wrong life stage. Wrong emotional toolkit. He cares, but not in the way that builds a life. He wants you, but not enough to risk losing the friendship. He’s stuck, and you’re stuck caring about someone who can’t give you what you want when you need it.

These are the kinds of stories people don’t see when they ask, “Why aren’t you married yet?”
As if the answer is simple.
As if the path to love is a straight line.
As if I haven’t had opportunities—just not the kind anyone should say yes to.

I tell people all the time: if I really wanted to, I could’ve been married at least four times by now. But let’s be honest—I’d also have four divorces, a punch card at the courthouse, and a lawyer who knows my coffee order. I’d rather be single than waste my time in a relationship that drains me instead of delights me.

And that’s the question that keeps you up at night: What do you do when you love someone who can’t meet you where you are?

Do you wait?
Do you move on?
Do you date someone else while your heart is still tangled in someone who isn’t your’s?

There’s no clean answer. Love is messy. Timing is rude. And the universe has a dark sense of humor.

Relationships take work; real work. Dedication, compromise, communication, vulnerability, and the willingness to show up even when it’s inconvenient. They can be beautiful, fulfilling, and life-changing. They can also drain you, confuse you, or leave you wondering why you ever downloaded Bumble in the first place.

So are they worth it?

Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. Sometimes, “ask me again tomorrow.”

Here’s the truth no one tells you:
Being single at 38 is not a failure. It’s not a punishment. It’s not a sign that something is wrong with you.

It’s simply a life path, one that’s just as valid as marriage, motherhood, or the white-picket-fence fantasy people assume you should want.

You can choose to date casually.
You can choose to wait for something real.
You can choose to be alone with your cat with no man insight or… You can choose to keep trying, keep meeting people, keep hoping.

There’s no wrong answer. There’s only the answer that feels right for you in this season of your life.

Dating at 38 isn’t a tragedy. It’s a story; My Story. One filled with humor, heartbreak, resilience, and the kind of character development that would make a screenwriter proud.

I’m not behind.
I’m not failing.
I’m not “less than.”

I’m a woman who has lived, loved, tried, learned, and kept going. And that’s something to be proud of.

If anything, I’m the plot twist. And honestly? That’s far more interesting than the predictable happily-ever-after everyone expected.

Morals: 1) Anyone can offer “forever.” The real test is whether they show up in the everyday moments that actually build a life. 2) You’re allowed to choose what makes you happy, even if it doesn’t look like what others expect. 3) Every misstep, mismatch, and miscommunication has shaped you into someone who knows what they want and refuses to settle for less. 4) You can love someone deeply and still not be able to build a life with them. That doesn’t make the love invalid; it just makes the situation human. 5) Your life is valid, full, and worth celebrating exactly as it is.

Much Ado About Nothing

“A mother’s love is her armor, and her family is the cause she will defend with every heartbeat.” – Maya Angelou

The newest Melgreen family misadventure involves My Paper Cutter Declaring War, and My Mother Responded Like a Medieval Knight. There are certain sounds in a house that make you pause. A door closing. A glass shifting. Floors that squeak when you are alone. A thud that could be something or nothing. And then there are sounds so loud, so dramatic, so apocalyptic, that they summon my mother like a mythological guardian armed with… whatever kitchen utensil is closest to a pitchfork.

This was one of those days.

My parents and I, with my cat Zoey on my lap, were sitting peacefully, watching a new series we were enthralled with, Young Sherlock on Amazon Prime, when a crash echoed from upstairs—sharp, violent, the kind of noise that makes you instantly evaluate your life choices. Before I could even stand, I heard it: the unmistakable thunder of my mother sprinting up the stairs like she was storming a castle.

My mother didn’t just run upstairs. She charged in like any noble medieval knight — if medieval knights wore fuzzy socks and wielded kitchen utensils instead of swords. She stood beside me, utensil raised, ready to defend her kingdom (me) from whatever beast had dared make that ungodly noise.

This is the same woman who once ran into the street wearing nothing but a robe when I got hit by a car as a kid. The same woman who has stopped to help injured motorcyclists on the side of the road without a second thought. The same woman who treats danger like a nuisance and not a threat. Nothing will intimidate her; she is a force not to be reckoned with. So naturally, she was prepared to fight whatever creature had made that noise, whether it be a burglar, a stray cat, or a ghost.

We crept toward the source of the chaos—her gripping her grilling “pitchfork”, my dad and I trying not to laugh because she was so serious it felt like we were reenacting a scene from The Walking Dead.

And then we found it.

The culprit.

The villain.

The threat to our household safety… My plastic 18×6 in’ paper cutter.

It had simply fallen off the shelf. There was no intruder. No disaster. No supernatural disturbance. Just gravity doing what gravity does for reasons unknown to us.

My mother lowered her utensil, sighed, and said, a little disappointed, something along the lines of, “Well, at least we know the house is safe.” Then she walked away looking as if she hadn’t just charged into battle.

And that’s the thing about her: she doesn’t wait to find out if it’s serious. She doesn’t pause to assess. She hears danger—real or imagined, and she runs toward it. Every time. With whatever she has. Even if it’s a giant grilling “pitchfork.”

Some people have superheroes. I have a mother who treats every loud noise like a personal challenge. A mother who will ensure I am safe no matter what stands in the way. A mother who teaches me every day that true strength is quiet, instinctive, and rooted in love.

And honestly? I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

Morals: 1) Courage is acting despite uncertainty. 2) Every day, people can be heroes.

How Forgetting My Password Turned Into an Unexpected Curling Career

The only way to improve is to try new things. – Charles Koch

It’s been an odd little season of life. I hadn’t written anything in a while—mostly because I couldn’t log into my own computer. Truly, a writer’s worst nightmare: defeated not by writer’s block, but by my own password. After typing it wrong twelve times, resetting it twenty‑four more, and still being denied entry like a suspicious stranger at my own digital doorstep, I decided to take the hint and indulge in my favorite coping mechanism… shopping.

What I didn’t realize was that while I was away from my keyboard, the universe—or more specifically, my father—was busy rearranging my life. Some people return from a writing break with clarity. I returned to discover I had been enrolled in curling lessons. By my father. Without my knowledge. Because he watched the Olympics once and became convinced—deeply, spiritually convinced—that in four years I’ll be gliding across international ice in a puffy jacket, representing our nation. He has already researched flight prices to Italy. Italy! A place I’d love to visit, sure, but preferably not as an athlete in a sport I’ve never attempted.

To be clear, I have zero curling experience. I’ve never expressed interest in curling. I barely watch curling during the Olympics, because I’m too busy watching ice skating and snowboarding. If anything, my dream is to become Aruba’s first snowboarding champion—though that might require learning how to stay upright on a board instead of repeatedly landing on my butt… or accidentally cutting off a very attractive guy on the slopes and using him as my personal crash pad.

Still, I’ll give my father this: the man is enthusiastic. He talks about curling with the confidence of someone who has curled exactly once—at a mall pop‑up demonstration in 1998. Yet he insists I have “the natural build” for it, which is news to me, because I didn’t realize curling required anything beyond “a person who can remain upright on ice.” He’s already telling extended family to keep their winters free… You know, for when I make the next Winter Olympics.

April 25th marks the beginning of my athletic journey. Or misadventure. Or impending disaster. Hard to predict. But at least I’ll have something to write about that doesn’t involve being locked out of my own computer. And who knows? Maybe I’ll be incredible. Maybe my father’s intuition is freakishly accurate. Maybe in some alternate timeline, I am destined for curling greatness, and he’s simply tuned into it. Or maybe I’ll slip, fall, and slide gracefully into the wall while my father cheers proudly from the stands.

Either way, I’ll keep you updated.

Moral of the story: Never turn down a chance to try something new. If nothing else, it gives you a great story—and a guaranteed win for “two truths and a lie.”

Power of Music and Friendship

Once you start to replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you will start to have positive results. – Willie Nelson

Sometimes the best medicine is a spontaneous adventure, especially when it involves live music from legendary artists. Despite feeling drained and groggy from the aftereffects of a seizure the day before, when my friend texted with an invite to see Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson perform together, I got a ‘let’s go’ shot of adrenaline. I knew I needed to take it easy, but the lure of a relaxing evening on the grass, soaking in the timeless tunes of these musical icons, was simply too tempting to resist. I packed a blanket and some snacks, filled my friend in on my lingering headache, and headed out, eager to lose myself in the magic of the music. Seeing Bob Dylan again was a nostalgic throwback to the concert I attended with my parents years ago, and I wondered if age had changed his notoriously eccentric, no-frills performing style. And Willie Nelson—the legend whose voice I had heard in utero when my pregnant mom went to his show 38 years prior, and whose story I had learned at his Tennessee museum just last year—it seemed kismet to finally see him perform live for myself. As I lay back on the soft grass and let the first chords wash over me, I could feel my body relax, my spirits lift, and a smile that acknowledged the healing power of music and the joy of embracing life’s spontaneous adventures with my friend.

Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson have had a profound impact on the world of music, not just through their incredible songwriting and performances, but in the way they’ve lived their lives with a sense of spontaneity and a deep appreciation for the power of music. Both legendary artists have weathered their share of personal struggles and traumas, yet they’ve always turned to music as a healing force. In the wake of a seizure or any difficult life event, immersing oneself in the moving lyrics and soulful melodies of Dylan and Nelson can be incredibly therapeutic. Their songs speak to the human condition in a raw, honest way, chronicling heartbreaks and hardships, yet always with a glimmer of hope and resilience. Dylan’s poetic genius shines through in masterpieces like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin” which became anthems for a generation striving for social change. And Nelson’s simple yet profound storytelling in songs like “On the Road Again” and “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” has the power to soothe even the most troubled spirit. They remind us that even in the face of adversity, embracing the twists and turns of life with a free spirit and a song in our heart can help us not only survive but thrive. In a world that often feels chaotic and beyond our control, the music and life examples of Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson offer a beacon of light – a reminder to cherish the healing power of music and to never stop pursuing our paths with passion, purpose, and the freedom to be spontaneous.

Moral: 1) Sometimes things work out just the way they should. 2) Good music and good friends are two of my keys to a good life. What are yours?

Woke: A Person Who Cares

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Well, folks, it’s time to talk politics. I know, I know – it’s not the most fun or lighthearted topic. But sometimes we gotta get real and tackle the tough issues head-on. Politics impacts every single one of us, whether we realize it or not. It shapes the policies and laws that govern our lives, from healthcare to education to taxes and everything in between. But let’s be real – the current political climate is a hot mess. We’ve got politicians more focused on scoring cheap political points and “owning the libs” than actually solving problems and improving people’s lives. Partisanship and tribalism are at an all-time high, with each side demonizing the other as evil incarnate. Social media just amplifies the noise, misinformation, and vitriol. It’s exhausting and disheartening. But you know what? We can’t just throw up our hands and check out. Politics is too damn important. We’ve gotta stay engaged, even when it’s hard. We’ve gotta educate ourselves on the issues, think critically, and hold our leaders accountable. We’ve gotta fight for our values and make our voices heard, whether it’s at the ballot box, at a protest, or just in conversations with friends and family. Because at the end of the day, politics isn’t some abstract game. It has real consequences for real people’s lives. So let’s wade into the messy, infuriating, but utterly crucial world of politics. It ain’t always pretty, but it’s necessary. Onward!

I just wanted to take a moment to express the importance of speaking up for one’s rights and never letting fear of not being accepted or the end of a relationship be the reason you stay silent. We all (All genders) deserve someone willing to stand up for us, but most importantly, with us; no questions asked. People may not always feel as strongly about a situation as you do, but those surrounding us should still be willing to hold space for you and let you know you are not alone. So this is me letting you know I am here for you, I see you, and you are not alone because YOU MATTER!

People may wonder why I am not married or have children when I turn *eek* 38 this year. The answer is simple. I value myself and those around me, I deserve someone who gets that; We all do. We don’t need men like Charles Kirk, who think women are just here to have babies and are unhappy if they are not fulfilling their purpose. Those who feel women should be arrested for having a miscarriage and need a man to survive.

What does make me unhappy isn’t not being married or not having children, It is the fact that we need commercials to remind us how to be kind because we have a buffoon in the office who failed kindergarten. We have a buffoon who has gotten people to believe that hating and discriminating against everyone makes a country “great”. A buffoon who is so in love with Putin and greed that he is threatening war with Greenland, taking away Medicare, suicide hotline for VETS, deporting legal citizens and putting them in what one can only call a concentration camp due to having a tattoo that says Mom or a butterfly (because that is gang member you should fear), and to add insult to injury not even being there to honor fallen soldiers because golf takes priority, and so much more.

I am upset because I even have to explain why taking away the Department of Education, Social Security, Food from food banks, free lunches from school children, Sesame Street, Air traffic control, not allowing Women to have control over their own bodies, etc., is something to be upset about.

We are not stupid or worthless because we see each other as fellow human beings who should be there to support each other and want each other to be safe and protected.

In closing I will say, If there is any doubt in your mind about what kind of person the buffoon who thinks he is “King” thinks/does is for your benefit or HOPE he can do better; not showing up for our fallen soldiers, encouraging hate, and not helping anyone but billonaires should let you know all you need to know.

Thanks for listening. I promise next time I will tell you about watering fake plants, thinking it is a Saturday when it is a Friday, going to the biggest Arizona State (ASU) hockey game and winning, but for now, thank you for your time.

Moral: 1) Stand Up! 2) We are stronger together than divided. 3) YOU MATTER and don’t let anyone, even a buffoon as president make you for once think otherwise.