For most, if not all of my life, I’ve felt less than. That I don’t measure up, or if I do, I’m an imposter. Like, even if I have it all, I have nothing. If things are going really well, I assume it’ll be fleeting. Success, if it comes, seems like a clever hoax. When […]
The Thing About Being Present
I tried to figure out why women, in particular, were so crazy about the Priest character I wrote for Fleabag. Sure, he was handsome and charming and all that, but why go so nuts? In studying it, I eventually realized he was doing this one amazing thing in every scene—he was listening. —Phoebe Waller-Bridge Here’s a […]
The Thing About Death
As I write this, people in my writing circle are mourning the death of a man who was something of a giant in our literary world. Many are grappling not only with that monumental loss, but they’re struggling to find the appropriate way to express their condolences to his wife (also a renowned author) and […]
The Thing About (My) Parents
“The most loving parents can commit murder with smiles on their faces. They can force us to destroy the person we really are: a subtle kind of murder.” -Jim Morrison. In life, we are bestowed certain things, whether we want them or not. The first of those two are our DNA and the family we’re […]
The Thing About (My) Depression
“When the flood water comes it ain’t gonna be clear, it’s gonna look like mud.” — The Front Bottoms, Twin Size Mattress I don’t know how it is for others. With me, it comes and goes, but when it comes, it does look like mud. Actually, it looks more like quicksand. Or rather a liquid […]
The Thing About Pets
“Gestures are all that I have.” — Enzo, The Art of Racing in the Rain Other than my wife, the person who knows me best is not a person at all. She can breathe, but she can’t speak. She can’t read or write. Can’t run a remote. Can’t drive. Can’t offer advice. Still, she’s one […]