Perhaps you remember the post I wrote about Rex Ogle’s memoir Free Lunch. That book centered on the year Rex was in 6th grade and detailed the physical, verbal and emotional abuse he suffered while living as a child with his mother, stepfather and younger brother. While I’ve never been physically abused, the book landed … Continue reading Punching Bag
Category: stress
Keeping it together as the Beatles fall apart
I’ve been binging on Peter Jackson’s documentary series, Get Back, about the Beatles and it really couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s the kind of show, in my opinion, that doesn’t require acute attention and that’s kind of where I am at present. The project most certainly was a labor of love for … Continue reading Keeping it together as the Beatles fall apart
(Re)Creating (dis)Comfort
Saturday was a damp, grey day, certainly not the kind of day which inspires a 100 mile road trip. But, the plans had been made and downstate friends and I were meeting at my brother’s new house to celebrate his recent birthday. “House” is a bit of a misnomer in this case because where my … Continue reading (Re)Creating (dis)Comfort
Pedals over pedestrians
On Election Day, the community where I worked rejected a proposal to modify a stretch of Delaware Avenue in their town. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know all of the details (I don’t live in the district where I teach) but, from what I’ve read and heard, the plan would have … Continue reading Pedals over pedestrians
Child care
Thursday was the first day of school for students in my district for the 2021-22 academic year. I prepared for my homeroom of 6th graders on Wednesday, carefully arranging their agenda books, printed schedules and student ids on their socially distanced desks. I was keen to be as organized as possible in hopes to create … Continue reading Child care
Control freak
Trigger warning: If you struggle with an eating disorder or body image issues, skip this post, please.) How do you respond to uncertainty or unexpected challenges? Are you inclined to yield to the universe and roll with it or do you instead try to grasp what you can and refuse to let go? I think … Continue reading Control freak
Fear of flying
On Friday, I had a washing-hands-in-the-bathroom conversation with a colleague about the upcoming spring holiday break. I mentioned being hungry for travel and she asked “aren’t you afraid to fly?”My immediate thought was “no, of course not.” I’ve come to think, though, that my quick response wasn’t completely accurate because I am afraid to fly … Continue reading Fear of flying






