A few days ago my friend Lisa told me about this post on Facebook written by a well-respected radical, an acquaintance of hers. It bugged the hell out of me and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. He wrote: “When you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t sleep because … Continue reading Me, Lisa, Laurie, and Emma…
Mom has scabies! To give context — Mom is one month shy of 97. Six weeks ago she fell and fractured her pelvis. In a so-called skilled nursing facility, she suffered mean and neglectful nursing. Also she itched terribly. It wasn’t investigated or diagnosed. Probably designated “old person with an itchy rash”. Different creams were used … Continue reading Scabies (and sh*t) happen…
I am getting toward the end of the exquisite book I wrote about last time — Insomniac City — by Bill Hayes — about Oliver Sacks, New York City, and himself. I’m at the point where Oliver Sacks has just received the diagnosis of the cancer that will end his life. He makes a list … Continue reading Listing the Positive…
Only a few yellow flowers have survived the original bouquet, but now there’s a happy new arrangement. I think we, humans, are like this too. It’s not what we don’t have, but what we’ve still got, and maybe more importantly what we’ve gained, that we can work with. We can re-arrange. Re-make our selves. … Continue reading The Beauty…
January, 2017 felt like the longest year of my life. Unfortunately as it ended, February offered competition for the title. “I’m feeling so angry this man has been allowed one day in the White house.” my friend Karen Lynch posted on Facebook yesterday. Yep. Me too. Even one day was way too long. His noisy, … Continue reading “Strong but exhausted but strong”
Such a flirt! I’d flirted with the idea of being vegan for awhile. Here’s a poem I wrote four … Continue reading Win, win, win… my personal (and political) story.
Every cloud has its silver lining. I awoke wondering what could be the silver lining to the disaster unfolding in Washington DC. I thought it must be the awakening of people, our coming together, our waking to a deeper understanding of the humanity we share, the importance of valuing everyone — gay, straight, Black, White, … Continue reading Silver linings, etc…
I’m writing this while flying to Phoenix on a brand-new very spiffy Southwest airplane. In Phoenix, I’ll meet up with my sister who is flying in from southern California. We’ll rent a car she snagged on Priceline last night for a good price. This is starting to sound like an infomercial, something about product placement. … Continue reading Always something…
A few days after the Women’s marches, I woke up thinking about #BlackLivesMatter. If Black lives Really mattered (equal to White lives), there’d be no need for the slogan. Unfortunately some groups get treated far differently (worse I mean) by those in power, thereby giving lie to the alternative fact of a post-racial America. I … Continue reading Tribal Matters or… This Little Amygdala
Who knew what to expect? I and the people I know and love detest Trump and abhorred the prospect of his actually taking power. I was happy and relieved someone had called for a massive Women’s March in DC. Then I was happy to hear that there would be local sister marches. I didn’t know … Continue reading Women’s Marches, meaning & aftermath
Gayle Markow: As I am... 