And nobody told me?

I started volunteering at domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers when I was in college, and for a time those service agencies dominated by career as well. I’ve listened to survivors tell their stories in tiny offices, in support groups, in courtrooms and ante chambers, in legislative hearings, at bill signings, at candlelight vigils,…

I love Barbara Ehrenreich, and think she is absolutely a brilliant social reporter. I loved her Nickel and Dimed experiment and the myths it busted. She did a remarkable job of telling the story of poverty and welfare reform through the construct of trying to survive on the salaries of a maid, a waitress and…

I have never had a therapist with a good sense of humor. Not for long, anyway. I imagine there are mirthful counselors out there and that they work  for someone. I wholeheartedly believe that humor heals, but I don’t go to therapy for healing. I go to for the arduous psyche slogging, a job so murky even Mike…

Foxes are following me. They’ve caught my scent; they’re on my tail. One salivates as he burrows into the rabbit hole at my feet. One are slowing crosses my path, stopping to listen before moving on. One crawls into my lap and ducks her sharp nose under my hand, coaxing my fingers through the embers…

Thermos of coffee. Still-frozen grapes and watermelon sprinkled with feta and mint (and I drank the juice which was the best/weirdest smoothie I’ve ever had. Try it!)  And free at no additional charge, the seaside’s signature thalo-dermabrasion/pedicure treatment and seaweed wrap, because Mother Nature > Groupon. Good morning! And on the way home we stopped for…

You know I love my Gulf. I’ve driven the Panhandle coastline on two trips to New Orleans already this year, and I don’t even know how many times last year, including to Grande Isle, Lousiana to work on a post-spill project. Trips to the beach? Who counts–as long as they are frequent? I should count,…

The worst part of getting older is the constant vigilance against signs of dementia. There are other bad things: all of this wisdom sucks too (sigh), and old people toenails will be a horrible development whenever that happens. But for right now, I’m sticking with the dementia thing as the worst. I worry about my…

Q. When did you know you were a Black Swan? A. What do you mean? I haven’t noticed any feathers poking out of my skin or anything.  Do you see something on my back?  Pluck it, pluck it! Q. I mean when did you notice you were different from the other little girls? A. You’re right, I first…

“SO sorry I’m late–traffic was un-freaking-believable. Crazy accident on 1-10, slowed everything for miles! Why do people gawk at trainwrecks, so unrespectful. So uncool! It wasn’t even a horrid one, really. A pickup truck and two regular sedans, two ambulances and three or four sheriff’s cars, tops–no, I think one was a trooper. They had…

I’ve taken three long car trips this month–just back from one this morning– and I’m not unpacking because I’m heading to Asheville in a few days. Hours on the road means a few things — I once again have the lyrics down stone cold down to A Night at the Opera. I’ve had no less…