My nephews Leo (8) and Julius (10) are staying with me. They’re sitting on the couch while I’m doing the dishes, and this is what I hear: “Will you join me? Why not? Don’t be boring.” “Stop killing me.” “Yeah, but you just died to annoy me.” “Aunt Lara, will you play the pirate game…
On the evening of my fortieth birthday, I lay crying in bed because I had just given my little dog Zjonnie away—and regretted it immediately. Even as a puppy, Zjonnie was like a dog with ADHD squared. Shortly after I got him, I took on a demanding communications assignment further away from home. A friend…
I’ve deleted my account and removed the app from my phone. The worst thing that can happen is that I start over one day. But for now, Tinder is staying offline. Lately, every conversation seems to be about one thing. And that’s not a problem. It can be fun, too. But it almost immediately becomes…
The other day I told a friend about my idea for The Royal Club 🏰How it all started after a man dumped me, blocked me, and basically forced me to deal with myself instead. 😄 During that conversation she said something interesting. She knows a lot of women who have their lives together. Good job,…
Every day starts the same.Wake up, stretch, shower, glass of water, and off to the Koumenberg with the dogs (now just Easy) for a walk. No decision fatigue. We go. Rain or shine. Today it’s grey, drizzly, wet and cold. Still, Easy — despite her Spanish roots — is excited as always. When we return…
Polly is nearing 15. That’s quite an achievement for a little dog — even if she’s not big and not an official purebred. Her name was originally Sonja, but that reminded me of the nasty little dog from the neighbors when I was a kid. The one that would bite your calves without hesitation. If…
Every now and then, the walls start closing in on me.And suddenly, everything in the house has to change. Recognizable? The couch turns 180 degrees to the right.The kitchen table goes back to its old spot.The shelving unit moves to the other side of the room. To make that happen, the shelves have to be…
Yes, that one from the line at Aldi. 🐾 My Greek god is not Greek. And definitely not a god. Just a guy from Maastricht who was replacing gas pipes in my street. I call him that because he is, at least to me, unbelievably handsome — and one of those rare specimens who seems…
This morning, while waiting in the newly opened second checkout line at Aldi with a fresh baguette and dog food, a woman storms into the store shouting: “Whose two dogs are in that car?” It takes me a moment to realize she’s talking about me.My head is still somewhere in the clouds after my Greek…
When my nephew Jim was still a little guy — and still found his Aunt Lara interesting (he’s 13 now) — he loved coming over for sleepovers. I was still living in Eindhoven back then. Sleepovers meant no rules: endless TV, a fully stocked candy drawer at grabbing height, and — fixed tradition — chips…
