Category Health
Of Sound Mind
I haven’t written in ages. I haven’t been able to. Why? This year has been extremely challenging. Lots thrown at me. Tested my abilities on just about everything. And in the end, I, well, lost it. It all started when I lost my job on January 31, 2025. Liked, but not loved what I was […]
Tacking On Another Year
Another year has flown the coop, and I feel like a bird with clipped wings. Although I feel great and still can pass for looking pretty good, I’m not sure about the road ahead. This is the time when most people my age start planning their retirement. I’m in the unenviable position of never being […]
The Almost Loss
Not quite gone yet…and still beautiful with life Above you see what’s left of a canal that once was vibrant with life. It carried many passengers in its day, from coal territory in Pennsylvania to the waters of the Hudson River. Donkeys towed the barges that held not only coal, but other goods manufactured in […]
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Angela had gorgeous thick blonde hair. Actually, it seemed to consist of many shades of blonde. Sunlight played with its gentle waves, creating a luminous swath that trailed past her shoulders. Once, back in high school, she got a permanent – remember those? – and her head resembled a sheep’s fleece. When we were kids, […]
Undying Love
Angela and I sat together in her hospital room, she in the bed and me perched on a chair. She’d just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The surgeon gave her one and a half years to live. A tube, protruding from her nose, drained the contents of her stomach. Her eyes stared straight ahead, shock […]
Brace Yourself
A trio of smartly-dressed citizen gathers around a table. In the background is some chic destination, like a Parisian street or a nightclub in Honolulu. The woman wears a close-fitting black sundress, flashing an impossibly perfect set of pearly whites, magnified by her red lipstick. Two admiring men, gazing at the rare jewel this woman […]
The Simple Stuff
So much deprivation over the last year has left me feeling disconnected. The lack of a social life. The inability to go anywhere or do anything. Even eating in a restaurant seemed hazardous. Or hugging someone. After attending a crowded art show opening in May, I kind of gathered the courage to venture out once […]
Anticipation
I go for my COVID-19 second shot on Wednesday. Can’t wait. My boss and I already arranged to take the day off afterwards (she goes on Tuesday) so we can recuperate. Since it’s a common side effect to feel lousy within 24 hours of the second dose, we figured we’d probably need time under a […]
A Light at The End of The Tunnel
The way one goes about getting a shot varies from state to state, but here in New York it’s done in increments. First, all the front line workers got them – doctors, nurses, anyone in the healthcare industry, police, firefighters, grocery store workers – anyone that has to face the public day after day. Then […]
Self-Isolation
I’m sure I’m not the only one to say this, but I’ve been spending too much time alone. There’s lots to be said about the solitary life, such as it creates self-reflection, gives one the chance to clear out the basement, or cook odd food combinations for dinner, like split peas and licorice. Mind you, […]
Confessions of A Middle-Age Woman 