Many people fear flying. Me? I fear the endless parade of anxiety-inducing hurdles standing between me and my time in the air. Even purchasing a ticket today requires a specialized skill set and two advanced degrees in The Reading of the Small Print. This flight is…
Doing the Dance of My People
On Flammable Teapots and the Element of Surprise
“I’ll put the kettle on for your oatmeal. Don’t forget it!” That’s how it all started: the flames. The ashes. The soot. The melted metal. The pervasive stench of burnt plastic. At least that’s what my parents allege. Me? I was blowdrying my hair, getting ready…
A Meditation on Meditation
Audio: “Let’s begin today’s meditation by taking several deep breaths, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Now close your eyes and focus on your breath. In. And out. In. And out. If you get distracted, gently make note of whether it’s a thought or a…
The Dandelion That Ate New York
It’s Not Easy Being Green
*ring ring ring* “Hi, this is your new lawn care expert! How is everything going? “Well, fine, I guess. We’ve only had one treatment so far.” “That’s great! Well I’m calling to let you know we’ll be doing a grub treatment in the next couple of…
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Musical
Because I live under a rock, it’s only recently that I started paying attention to the buzz about Hamilton. For this reason, it’s unlikely that I’ll get tickets to see it in person until I’m around 102 years old, but it did remind me how much…
Spring Arrives on Little Spider Feet
I am not a fan of winter. I’ve never been a fan of winter. Winter and me? Not friends. Our relationship became far more fraught once I lived in Miami for over a decade: my mid-Atlantic blood thinned to the point where I’d get cold even…
The Great Parking Lot Escape
Once upon a time, you had to pay cash to exit parking garages. That’s it. Cash. No credit cards. No paying ahead and using a little ticket to exit. No tapping a screen with your phone. No app. Just money. And a real person would be…
Camera Unready
“Hey, Mickey, would you mind serving as an emcee for an event in a couple of weeks?” “I’d love to. What should I wear?” “I’m sure whatever you choose will be fine.” Wrong. I have the uncanny ability to pick the exact wrong thing to wear…