And why a Brazilian should actually be called the Australian Open — Ohmygod! That really hurt! The closest thing I can compare this procedure to is getting a tattoo. I’ve spent nine hours getting intimate with a reciprocating needle for a decent-sized and well-thought out permanent display of ink on my right shoulder and back and it was nothing compared to the…

Where was the fucking driftwood? Shaking and sobbing, I told her that I couldn’t function. That my sleep was for shit, I wasn’t eating much if anything, the tiniest tasks were overwhelming for me. Could I please, PLEASE get some help? “Are you thinking of ending your life?” “Have you…

barely able to lift himself to standing, he peers around the edge of the couch and bears down. as though he’s having a hemorrhage, he tries to pass his entire baby torso out his little baby bottom. reaking from the fresh pile he has just deposited, i lay him on the table…

Listening to NPR, trying to take my mind off it being the first days without my college-moved-in son at home. I’m handling his absence the best way I know how, by reaching out to a familiar voice. Even more so, these last few days, I’ve loved listening to 1A, hosted…

I just drove to get my son and his girlfriend bagels for breakfast. His, a cinnamon sugar with bacon and egg, and hers, the same with just bacon. I did this to allay my sadness over his leaving for college. I’ve gotten them bagels before, but I did it this…

I’m at a loss. I don’t know what to do with this, so I’m just putting it out there. Less than an hour ago, I found out about a wonderful man dying of stomach cancer. A friend. …

I thought I had the full 32. I’ve only had 28 for most of my life. 14 up and 14 down. I just lost 2 of my molars. I woke up yesterday with 28 teeth, and I went to sleep with 26. I was told by two different oral surgeons…

I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom. -Umberto Eco I would amend Eco’s words, in that sometimes we are taught by little scrapes of wisdom. We…

160 miles. 150 minutes. Chapel Hill to Boone. He plays the role of deejay. I like most of his music. I’m happy to find that a lot of it is my music. Though he likes it louder than I do. He likes it at 11. We compromise and he cuts…