In Which People are Generally Cool
This morning, while I walloped crawling mosquitoes off of my vulnerable feet, my husband hacked off haphazard slices of my toenails with his Leatherman.
Waiting for Rainbows
We stepped off the plane and looked around us. There were six rainbows. At the same time. It was amazing, surprising, and exactly what I expected. Perfection.
Billy Collins’ Paradelle
In 1998, Billy Collins pulled off the greatest literary practical joke in the history of the English language: he invented the paradelle.
The Definitive TV Show Primer
It’s finally here: After conducting numerous focus groups, objectively scouring reviews, carefully analyzing plot devices, and synthesizing the results, I am ready to debut The Definitive TV Show Primer.
Family Portraits
In the evening we venture out into the city that she has called “the armpit of California” and find a place to procure some burritos. As we eat, Aunt Ellen tells me about her world travels.
Gotta Catch ‘Em All
Ash Ketchum lives in a world where all animals can be pets. Ash Ketchum’s life is one big adventure, and everyone he knows has a life as full of destiny as he does.
On Gollum
Gollum’s torture reminds us of the hand that we the good, we the kind and generous-minded, have in producing “bad character.” We call forth the best and worst in each other.
The World Is on Fire
Orlando. Baghdad. Baton Rouge. Trump. Dallas. Brexit. Nice. Ten thousand daily cruelties.
Kitesurfing and Other Ways Home
It took a three-week trip to Singapore for me to decide to try it myself. I had heard it was difficult, that you need a week to truly learn, but I only had a day.
On Wonder
When I tell people that the high schoolers painted a building, cleaned up weeds and replaced broken doors, people ask me what the building is for. “Nothing,” I say.
