Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of Robin Williams’ death. I remember the date because I wrote something about it on Facebook. (I’m not great any more at remembering dates, and I’m not sure this one would have stuck that specifically regardless.) I’m not much of a movies or TV person, but he was phenomenal. Dead … Read more
The short version: my goal is to help people be educated so they can make decisions in an informed way. I am not trying to scare people or to be a downer, though I acknowledge that these days, most of the news is bad news. The fact is that in a capitalistic society, the main … Read more
The Kid was in a bad mood this weekend. Easy to inadvertently poke without any discernible reason. Sunday night, after another large incident over a benign thing, the three of us sat down and had a conversation to try to figure out what was actually going on. Turns out, he had read something in one … Read more
June 15, 2000 Dear 35-year-old Heat, I’ve finally admitted to myself something that I’ve been denying or avoiding for a long time: I’m fat, and I’m rapidly getting fatter. I’m 70 pounds heavier than I was when I graduated high school just 7 years ago. I could blame it on genetics, Heat. Mom is fat. … Read more
Every now and then, I read or hear something that takes a concept I am familiar with and puts it in a new light, adds a new twist, creates more depth. There was one from Where Should We Begin just a week ago, and today, there’s another. It becomes a conversation about entitlement and deprivation. … Read more
As I mentioned a bit ago, I have been bingeing on Where Should We Begin? by Esther Perel. The first episode of the second season (“You Need Help to Help Her”), she’s talking with a couple who has a young adult daughter with problems. Most of the details of the episode aren’t relevant to this … Read more
I wrote yesterday about things that people said to me during my cancer journey and in the time since (though one could argue that it’s all the same journey). I wanted to talk about it a little more. I don’t think people are intentionally being mean or dismissive or any other unpleasant thing. I think … Read more
I came across a video the other day. It’s a few years old but, aside from the event that she references, it’s timeless. I have no connection to the site, to the woman, to the organization, to any of the people. She just has a good message. The past handful of years, I’ve been trying … Read more
People need people to thrive. Numerous studies in the last decade point to social networks as a critical variable for longevity, and for general functionality and thriving. As both a teacher and a parent, I see articles and videos about special needs kids, and to teach your kids to be kind and to be friends … Read more
The Kid had lots of energy the other night and wanted to play with other kids. It was too late in the evening to try to call around to see if any of his friends were available. (This is a huge disadvantage to him not going to the neighborhood school—his school friends don’t live around … Read more