mary fran bontempo

Always on High Alert

Every summer about this time, I find myself in a bit of a slump. I’m tired. Tired of the heat, tired of the bugs, just…

When It All Falls Apart

The other day, my website crashed. All I could do was stare in horror at the jumble of words, code and images that had once…

The Storm of Addiction

We’ve had some wild summer storms in my area lately. Thunder, lightning, torrential rain and flooding. Frequently, they seem to come without much warning, aside…

The Codependent Trap

Codependent? Me? No way. To me, being codependent meant supporting someone else’s unhealthy habits and lifestyle—almost encouraging them. And I would never do that. Who…

Finding Peace in Service

What does peace look like? When you’re trying to support someone in active addiction, it’s a question that’s impossible to answer. There is no peace,…

The Blessing of Forgetfulness

What a luxury. This past week, I was blessed to spend several days at the Jersey shore. But that wasn’t the luxury. At the week’s…

Summertime, But is the Living Easy?

Isn’t summer wonderful? Long, warm, light-filled days meant for relaxing and recharging after a dark, cold winter. There’s little more delightful than a summer day…

Rebuilding the Trust Factor

Lies. Theft. Manipulation.  How do you trust someone who has embodied not just one of those elements, but all of them?  It’s a question faced…

Refusing to Reflect

I never really imagined one of the blessings/curses of the current pandemic would be time to think. Given our isolation, as well as a 24-hour…