essays
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Birch
One day many years ago, my friend Eve Apprill asked if I would like to go visit some trees in Paris. It was an unusual invitation – though, given her…
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The Rounding
I was once engaged to a man who loved animals. His devotion to his cats and dogs was utter and complete. I loved animals as well, but lacked the immersive,…
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Luck
My parents were hard workers. Day after day they rose early, turned on the radio and made coffee in the silver percolator (my father), set out my breakfast and my…
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The Grandmother Effect
Nearly a year ago, when I was feeling stuck in certain areas of my life, a woman advised me to plant a tree. “Something’s amiss in your roots,” she said….
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Family
Last month I went home for a visit: a happy occasion, my niece’s wedding. I survived the long flight and dove into familial waters again after an absence of several…
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Thrown
Just a few days after the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain were reported in the media last month, I got an email from an old friend. She’d been…
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Small Things of Consequence
We tend to admire the longer, larger things in life: the tallest building, the longest bridge, the highest mountain, the furthest distance travelled, the relationships that go way back. Today…
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Ode to the Spider
Would you trade this human body for any other? I would not, despite its flaws and limits. But I’ve thought about it. I have envied the elephant its massive dignity,…
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The Doppler Epiphany
I work with the human body, but I must admit I’m not as well-versed in anatomy as I would like to be. I listen with my hands and can feel…
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A Game of Risk and Tea for Two: Holding Space
I’m sitting down to write about “holding space” – the act of being present for others in a non-judgemental way – and lo and behold, who shows up but my…
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Unpacking Mom
My mother worked in a bra factory. For much of her adult life, she was a pattern marker for Maidenform, the women’s underwear manufacturer, which was (and I believe still is)…
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How Writing Saved My Life – and Why it Might Improve Yours
I was bullied when I was a kid. It wasn’t a “thing” back then – there was no special counseling, no National Bullying Prevention Center, no stopbullying.gov. It wasn’t even…
