“The neighbors lost their white cat,” my husband said, “maybe you could keep an eye out for it.” “Sure,” I said, “if it walks by the couch, I’ll certainly alert someone.” The […]
The Insider: A Gloom of One’s Own
Confessions of a Gambler
The first time I won $1,000 gambling, I was playing the Enchanted Unicorn game in a small gambling parlor attached to Benny’s, my favorite local bar. Enchanted Unicorn has images of princes, […]
Three Mindful Steps: In the Jungle of Monkey Mind
Seven a.m., I drag myself out of bed – online meditation is due to start. I have three extra minutes if Fred decides to wait for the stragglers, as he usually does. […]
On Purpose: Work, Religion, and Community
I used to be a priest in the Church of Poetry. I had 60-80 parishioners per semester, mostly young people with varying dedication to Poetry. Some entered the classroom having only worshipped […]
When You Have to Share Your Birthday Month
I never expect much fanfare on my birthday. I wasn’t raised to expect it. My parents were practical, sober, working class people, stable but not particularly affluent. Some years my mom made […]
The Playlist
Even in my postpartum-addled state, I recognize I’m singing my baby daughter a love song. . . . Yet the words have never seemed more true.
7 Reasons Dog Tricks Can Save Your Life
They say depression has tripled in the United States since the start of the pandemic, with corresponding increases in suicide rates, domestic abuse, and addictions. If you’re feeling down or even desperate, and scrolling through puppy pictures just isn’t enough for you, consider teaching a dog a trick. And here’s why:
On Doubting and Believing
Let’s take some of our free time to play at doubting what we are naturally inclined to believe, and believing what we are naturally inclined to doubt. I guarantee that if nothing else, it will help us better argue for what we believe, and against what we doubt, with more reason and passion.
My Personal Time Capsule 2020
2020 has been a doozy of a year. Between a global pandemic and a fractious presidential election, many of us in the U.S. are ready to leave 2020 in the rearview. But […]
Endings . . . and Beginnings
While most people think about food this time of year, I contemplate the end of the world.
