Nov 24, 2021Member-onlyMy First Crush Was Egon SpenglerWatching Ghostbusters: Afterlife brought back memories of my first great love — Harold Ramis. It takes a lot for me to go to the movie theater — even outside of a pandemic — but Ghostbusters: Afterlife looked too good to miss. And boy was I right. Not only is the…Ghostbusters3 min read
Nov 17, 2021Member-onlyMy Cat Has Visited 30 States and 13 National ParksFolks don’t believe me when I say my cat enjoys traveling, but she does. And boy are we lucky. Recently I posted a family photo of my partner, myself, and my cat at the Grand Canyon on a Facebook travel group. …Cats5 min read
Published in Human Parts·Nov 5, 2021Member-onlyMy Family’s History Is a Prop at Cracker BarrelA random photo sent me down a rabbit hole of learning more about my immigrant great-grandfather, his employer Endicott Johnson, and the era of welfare capitalism — I left my hometown in Central New York as soon as I graduated college. Not because I hated the town, nor because I wanted to detach from my community. I adored my childhood as the granddaughter of the Main Street business owner; our staff and customers were family. …Family6 min read
Nov 1, 2021Member-onlyWe Dressed as Warren Zevon Songs for HalloweenNobody got our costumes, but that’s ok. We were happy little nerds anyways. In this house, we listen to Warren Zevon — the rock n’ roll prodigy, renowned LA curmudgeon/asshole, and singer that Gen Z doesn’t know enough about to cancel though would cancel if they did. Because of our…Warren Zevon3 min read
Oct 28, 2021Member-onlyYou Can Take Your White Claw Hate and Shove ItI love White Claw and here’s why. Recently I attended a small outdoor gathering and brought with me a six-pack of the popular hard seltzer beverage White Claw. As I greeted the host for the first time, she looked down at the cans in my hand and made a face…Drinking5 min read
Oct 27, 2021Member-onlyWhat Will Happen When All The Holocaust Survivors Are Gone?With antisemitism on the rise, it’s vital that we never forget what happened. (Trigger warning: Every horrible thing you can think of) Imagine watching your beloved dog repeatedly stabbed by a bayonet. Imagine watching your lifelong friends and neighbors throw children into the freezing river. Imagine watching your childhood home…Jewish5 min read
Oct 20, 2021Member-onlyHis Name Was TomThough his death was barely noticed, he mattered. And I want you to know about Dr. Thomas Mwanika. During the last six months of my grandmother’s life in our local hospital’s nursing and rehab center, I met a remarkable man — a man with a smile and laugh as warm…Relationships8 min read
Oct 14, 2021Member-onlyWhy I Don’t Write About Current Issues or Events AnymoreI used to write about important current issues. Now I don’t and here’s why. I’ve written essays online for 13 years — initially on my blog and then on Medium. When I first began writing online, I wrote about light stuff like movies, music, pop culture, and the life of…Current Events4 min read
Oct 11, 2021Member-onlyA Love Letter to Pittsburgh: One of the Most Underrated Cities in AmericaLow cost of living? Arts & culture? Beautiful scenery? Weird phrases & smoke-filled bars? Streets as narrow as sidewalks? You’ll find it all in Pennsylvania’s Steel City. I’ve lived in several major American cities and regularly travel throughout the country, and I will adamantly tell you that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is…Pittsburgh9 min read
Published in Human Parts·Sep 30, 2021Member-onlyMy Anxiety Disappeared During the PandemicAn exploration in angst while watching music videos from the 80s. — As I write this, I’ve watched nine hours of 80s music videos in the past 24 hours. I stumbled upon this free music channel with a perfectly 80s name — XITE — and have been transfixed ever since. I’ve got to be honest — it came at a great time. …1980 S7 min read