The Only Child Diaries Podcast

This week we're finally back with our peppy intro music .  The shadow of loss has draped itself over recent days, with the departure of my cherished horse, Dallas, on March 17th. Yet, in the gentle sway of life's unyielding pendulum, I find a glimmer of hope and the resilience to carry on. Join me as I navigate the terrain of grief with a touch of humor and unfiltered honesty, sharing how the remembrance of those we'...

As the sun sets on another day, I find myself walking the familiar path of reflection and remembrance, a journey many of us know all too well. This week's episode is a heartfelt exploration of the persistent echoes of loss, marking the 8th week without Dallas and how a blend of work and family has become a beacon of light in darker times. I also pay homage to Gina, my dearest friend of 32 years, on what would have been her 65t...

This week I'm continuing my journey through the loss of Dallas, my cherished horse. Here we are, seven weeks later, unraveling the layers of grief that have enveloped my days. I explore the surreal void left by Dallas's absence, the haunting quiet of routines we once shared, and the tangled emotions that come with giving away some of the leftover horse supplies I still have.  I was also just surprised that I became such a...

Navigating the ebb and flow of grief is a journey few can walk alone. As I recount the ongoing process of healing after the loss of my beloved Dallas, I share not just the sadness but also the strength found in the weeks thereafter. This episode is an intimate reflection on personal loss, the struggle with pet care, and the unexpected challenges life throws our way. Late-night vet visits with Bubbie, my cat grappling with health is...

The journey through grief is as unique as the bonds we form, and this episode is a candid exploration of my own path, marked by both sorrow and unexpected moments of joy. Reflecting on author and philosopher Judith Butler's insights, I delve into the profound disorientation that comes with the loss of someone integral to our identity. Join me in understanding the intricate dance between the pain of missing a loved one and the ...

As I reach the four week mark after the loss of Dallas, I find myself in denial.  Denial over his passing.  And denial that the grief doesn't exist I guess.  It's been hard to process continually and yet I know somehow I must process it, as painful as it is.   

I open up about the time in 2007 when Dallas fell ill, sharing the story of our struggle and my profound gratitude that arose from those challenging days....

This week I'm giving an update on how I'm managing and navigating my grief over losing Dallas, my horse.  It's been another rough week.  Not that the grief isn't hard enough, but our cat Bubbie needed to be rushed to the emergency vet.  This would be hard enough emotionally but I didn't realize how much of a trigger it would be for me.  Waiting to talk to the vet I just lost it. And it turns out I was so di...

As I navigate the beginning of my life - our lives - without our beloved horse Dallas, I share a couple of the heart wrenching experiences from this  past week.  There is solace I suppose in rituals that ease the burden of grief, or at least help you navigate the world. His stall at the barn is now a tribute to him, with  flowers and heartfelt notes, each message a testament to the love Dallas inspired. Then there are his ashes, th...

Last week brought an unexpected and heavy-hearted farewell as my husband and I grappled with the sudden loss of our horse Dallas, a beloved family member for nearly 23 years. Stripped of the usual fanfare, this episode is an intimate recollection of the emotional journey from the urgent call that something was amiss, to the heart-wrenching decision we faced in the final moments of Dallas's life. I share not only the pain of ou...

Dealing with emergencies.  This is something that as humans we are going to experience.  The question is, how do we react and can we learn to react better? 

Emergencies can take many forms.  In this episode, I will tell you about my experience with floods that take over living spaces, dealing with my husband's diabetes and horses.  I recount the upheaval of my friend's recent flood experience and the intricate d...

Do you ever misplace your keys?  Well, of course you do.  It's just something that happens, right?  These small yet crucial things often send you into a tailspin?   They sure do me!  That's the chaos underpinning today's episode of the Only Child Diaries podcast, where we unlock the power and pitfalls of those tiny gatekeepers of our lives: keys.  I'll share a story that involves my lost key pet-sitting adventur...

I started by pondering where are my episodes going?  And where have we been?  As our 80th milestone episode unfolds, I'll take you through the enchanting lessons gleaned from my garden and the admiration for a redwood giant that stands as a testament to endurance. It's a journey that also revisits the bittersweet echoes of my friendship with Gina, whose legacy in the beat of Los Angeles's music pulse taught me the ha...

Ever reminisce about the whimsy of childhood gardens and the silent wisdom of trees? Join me, Tracy Wallace, as I take you back to the roots of my family's legacy in the Only Child Diaries podcast. With memories ripened like the tangerines from the very tree my parents planted back in the 70s, we'll share the sweet and sometimes nutty tales of backyard gardening. From the nightly raccoon rendezvous in the walnut tree to t...

Ever found yourself sipping tepid coffee at dawn, wondering when 'me time' turned into 'squeeze in a five-minute shower time'? You're not alone! Join me, Tracy Wallace, as I humorously tackle the juggling act of self-care in a life cluttered with distractions. This episode of the Only Child Diaries podcast is an open diary entry on the art of self-prioritization, where I reveal my personal battles to slot m...

As I stood amidst the pouring rain, watching my horse dance restlessly in his stall, a melody played softly in my head—reminding me of the solace music offers even on the stormiest of days. This episode of the Only Child Diaries is a homage to the timeless power of music, a journey through its profound impact on our lives, from the way it shapes our emotions to the memories it etches in our hearts.

Embark with me, Tracy Wa...

Do you visit places in your mind?  The places you might have spent your childhood or countless hours of your life?  Every corner of a home holds a story, from the creak of a floorboard to the hum of the fridge. This week I unwrap layers of nostalgia that envelope the places of my past.   It's not just a trip down memory lane; it's an homage to the spaces that molded me and a reckoning with the artifacts of lives once live...

Life keeps surprising me!  Recently I found myself cooking.  Cooking?  What??  What happened to me?  The kitchen is a place where that feels somewhat unnatural to me.  But here I am, putting on an apron.  Well, okay, not really.  Join me as I serve up a feast of laughter and the occasional kitchen disaster. From the lofty expectations of healthy home cooking to the gritty reality of balancing a budget while deciphering cryptic reci...

Have you ever found yourself grappling with the relentless ebb and flow of change, much like the never-ending cycle of falling leaves each autumn? Join me, Tracy Wallace, as I muse on the universal constant of change, framed by the simple yet poignant task of raking leaves in the Only Child Diaries podcast. This episode, enriched by personal tales and a dash of humor, delves into the reflections on the inevitability of life's ...

Ever had an interview where you aced every question but still didn't land the gig? Join me as I share my recent not-so-glamorous story of job hunting. This week on the Only Child Diaries podcast, we're peeling back the curtain on the hunt for the perfect remote job, wading through a sea of applications, and trying to keep our sanity intact across multiple time zones. I'll share some personal tales that'll have y...