Write a letter for posterity

Letters keep a record. Not just of dates and events, but also of thoughts and ideas. Most Facebook and Instagram posts contain the makings of a boring letter.

Sitting in the dark, eating ice cream by myself

Ice cream is no fun by yourself. That’s what I thought last night as I sat with my little bowl of orange sherbet carved from the brick of Turkey Hill I bought last week for $4.99. I was sitting alone on the first floor of the house I live in, where all the lights areContinue reading “Sitting in the dark, eating ice cream by myself”

Girl Meets World has already disappointed me, and I’m not holding my breath for it to get any better

I’m not a negative person. Typically, I’m the first to spot a cloud’s silver lining and the spark from lightning that lights up the rainforest in a good way. But Girl Meets World, in its premiere episode, made me cringe enough to turn the TV off as soon as the ending credits rolled and decide no, thisContinue reading “Girl Meets World has already disappointed me, and I’m not holding my breath for it to get any better”

Good Reads: Little league, a horseman, and death row

This is the third in a new series of weekly posts recommending well-written narrative nonfiction/longform articles. This week’s picks: The Undefeated Champions of Defeat City by Kathy Dobie, GQ Artfully written, this piece introduces North Camden, New Jersey, a city known for drugs and violence, and Bryan Morton, a North Camden native who decided to combat decay by startingContinue reading “Good Reads: Little league, a horseman, and death row”

NYC Week Fourteen: 10 things I miss about home and school (aka rural America)

Read last week’s post here or view all other New York City posts. I’d just settled on the bench, purse and my bag of leftover food from work on my lap, one per leg. Done with work, time to wait for the F train and go home. “Meredith?” I looked up to see a familiar face, soft round featuresContinue reading “NYC Week Fourteen: 10 things I miss about home and school (aka rural America)”

NYC Week Seven: When memories flood forward

Read last week’s post here or view all other New York City posts. You can’t know who you are until you leave everything you’ve ever known. Not because being in an unfamiliar place surrounded by unfamiliar people brings you to some basic, almost neanderthal form of yourself. Not because everything new and strange helps you realize the personContinue reading “NYC Week Seven: When memories flood forward”

Week Two in New York City: Hey, stranger

Read last week’s post here or view all other New York City posts. Everyone wants a “Friends” apartment, to live with BFFs or favorite (read only) siblings and figure out life together, with a few fights and whole lot of fun along the way. I have yet to experience anything close to that. Over the past threeContinue reading “Week Two in New York City: Hey, stranger”

Four months in New York City: Week One: Once upon a time

The first time I went to New York City, I moved there for four months. In the distant future, I’ll say this to nieces, nephews, aspiring writers, and possibly children of my own. They’ll be in the middle of making big decisions, trying to decide whether to play it safe or step out of everythingContinue reading “Four months in New York City: Week One: Once upon a time”

Artists love me and I love trail runs, or Why Sunday is already my favorite day of this week

Yesterday was summer done right. Pushing 80 degrees — hot (for upstate New York). Humid — all the joints were greased with sweat. Sunny — only fluffy white clouds in sight. Sundays aren’t often my favorite day of the week, but yesterday was an exception from beginning to end. Here’s why. The sermon was onContinue reading “Artists love me and I love trail runs, or Why Sunday is already my favorite day of this week”