We have stairs in our house. (That seems like an odd thing to share, I’ll admit, but it’ll make more sense in a moment.) We’ve lived in this house for over two and a half years now, and I’ve gone up and down the stairs multiple times a day.
Suffice it to say, I’ve had a lot of experience with those stairs.
And yet, some days, as I’m running up the stairs, I have a moment—a strange moment when there’s a shadow or the light flickers and my brain goes “Where’s the next step?!” (more…)
“Here’s what a normal EKG result looks like.” The cardiologist flipped over my printout and started sketching.
It’s always interesting when a medical professional starts with “Here’s what normal looks like.” Because I know the results they’re about to show me will be not-so-normal. (more…)
Confession: I hate it when writers complain about how hard it is to write.
I’m not gonna pretend it’s always easy, as if the moment you sit down, inspiration comes streaming in like sunlight through an open window in summer.
Yes, there are days when you sit and stare at a blank page and it stares back at you, unblinking, trying to suck your soul dry and make you question everything. There are days when it’s incredibly hard work to get words on the page, and even harder work to make sure those words aren’t the worst drivel you’ve ever written. I get that.
I’m sorry for this messy, broken world you’ve inherited. A world where anyone can be targeted for anything they do or say. A world where the term “terrorist” is used daily.
You won’t remember this, but back before 9/11, “terrorism” was something that happened in other countries. Like car bombs and drone strikes. It was horrible, but a world away.
Until it came to us. Until it landed on our shore. (more…)