mary fran bontempo

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…

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…