TWO COASTS FOR COMFORT

Out Takes from Life, Family and Transitions

This is the story of two friends - cousins - living on two coasts. They came together twenty five years ago when Maureen searched for her birth mother. Were it not for Donna, the tight knit clan that our two families have become would not have happened.

Ours is the story of chosen and found family, stemming from the experience of adoption on both sides.

The Book

Maureen O'Brien

Two books are coming. The first is an account of growing up Gen Z, in my sons' and my words. Their journey is one of friends and sports and family and all things growing up. Mine is about raising emotionally intelligent young men inside a marriage I could not leave, and the joy and healing we found anyway.

The second book features the same cast of characters, but this time it's a story of immigration, white privilege, and spiritual discovery. Stay tuned.

SAFE HARBOR

A Blog by Many

Stories, Questions, Ruminations and Lessons

SNL Meets Creative Writing Class

“I’ll exquisite day you, buddy, if you don’t get down off that bag this minute.” You may recognize this line, if you’ve read J.D. Salinger’s short story Teddy. The line was on a list of “Effective Openers” I received in Creative Writing class my senior year of high school. This was no ordinary class - to this day it remains among the most memorable of my life. Like most great classes, it was all about the teacher. Beverly Adler was in her thirties, beautiful, sharp, warm hear

Maureen O'Brien, Frank Conway

Nov 21, 20252 min read

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MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

A Travel Series by Donna Richards

Faces, Places, & Moments in a Connected World

Venice: Family Style (Part One)

Truman Capote once said that being in Venice was like “eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at once.” His words capture the intoxicating spell the city is known for casting on visitors. More than just a destination, Venice feels like a doorway into another world - one where the past and present seamlessly intersect to dazzle your senses. It’s the rhythmic slap of water against bustling vaporettos, the reflection of ancient palazzos in quiet canals, the briny scent of th

Donna Richards

Feb 146 min read