Claire Bidwell Smith

A definite shift is occurring in my little part of the world. An internal turning, as only must happen when one is seven months pregnant. I’m alone in the house right now, for the first time in many days. It’s funny how used to not being alone, a person can become. Vera was on spring Read more…

It’s Thursday night in Santa Monica and I’m reclined on the couch, laptop propped on my knees, while I half-watch Bridget Jones’ Diary. I just put Vera down and Greg is out with a friend in West Hollywood. We got back from a week in Ohio the night before last and, as usual, I have Read more…

At long last the search is over. We signed the lease on a little house in Santa Monica yesterday. It’s pretty perfect. In a great neighborhood with wonderful parks and schools, biking distance to the beach and walkable coffee shops and restaurants. It’s a two bedroom with hardwood floors and a fireplace and an office. Read more…

We returned home to California last night and it made our recent move feel more real than ever. Several times on our trip I thought about going home and each time I caught myself picturing us going back to Chicago. When I corrected myself and thought of our new digs in Topanga Canyon I felt Read more…

A couple of months ago while I was working on the last chapter of my book I came across some old papers from around the time my father died. In them I found a note I had written reminding myself that my father would like some of his ashes scattered in his hometown of Rogers Read more…

I've had a hard time writing here lately, not because I don't have things to say. I do, I do. But because I'm just swamped with all kinds of stuff. Last week was a big push to finish the final edits of my book and now we're moving into this really dreadful time of having Read more…

We returned yesterday after 5 days in Ohio with Greg's family. Christmas is irrevocably over. Although I love this holiday, the moment it's over I never fail to feel a giant sense of relief. There is so much build up, and the event itself is such a production. The gift-buying, the parties, the cookies, the Read more…

Now that the tree is decorated and the Christmas cards have been ordered we don't have much else to do this holiday season besides go to a few parties and cross a some gifts off our list. This is my 4th Christmas season with Greg and each year it feels even more complete. The year Read more…

Almost two years after my mother died I had a dream that I was on Cape Cod. In the dream it was Thanksgiving and my whole family was present, my aunts and my uncle, my cousins, even my father. Everyone was seated around the long table in my aunt's dining room, a great feast laid Read more…

I took a long, hot bath last night and thought about all the things I'm grateful for right now. There's a lot. This last week has been lovely. When we reunited with Veronica on Wednesday in Ohio I think she said Mommy about 8 times in a row. She literally jumped up and down when Read more…