Articles
The One With Hope
Dr. Jane Goodall and I met in 2008 at a lecture in Manhattan. I was as giddy as a schoolgirl. I'm a fan of Dr. Jane for many reasons -- her determination and courage, chief among them. In 1960, 26-year-old Jane Goodall was hiking to her vantage point on a peak...
The One with the Shirtwaist
Among the people walking through Washington Square Park in Manhattan on March 25, 1911, was a reporter for the United Press news agency. William Gunn Shepherd followed the sound of women screaming, volunteer firemen sloshing buckets of water and windows shattering. As...
The One with Bossy
There has been a lot of "bossy" talk in the media this week. Sheryl Sandberg would like to have the word banned from use. As an opposer of censorship, I don't support encouraging the banning of words, but as I writer, I see her point. Words are powerful -- the pen...
The One with the Pretty
Every now and then I come across a book that has been collecting dust on my shelves. I'll buy a book, add it to the pile and then for some reason never get around to reading it. Right now that book is Edith Wharton's masterpiece The House of Mirth, published in...
The One with the Eavesdropping
“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” ~Ernest Hemingway I wholeheartedly agree with Hemingway on that point. Being a writer, I am a shameless eavesdropper. The best way to get a feel for the rhythms of natural speech is by listening when I...
The One with the Birkenstocks
A job interview is like a first date -- you know within the first five minutes if there will be a second date. A few years ago when I had an entry-level position available in my department, I felt like I'd been on an endless speed-dating circuit of potential job...
The One with My Favorite Literary Love Stories
I will preface this post by stating that I'm not your typical Valentine's Day person. I usually don't go in for the over-the-top, heart-shaped, bow-and-arrow trappings of the holiday, but, in my humble opinion, if you're doing the Valentine's gift exchange thing...
The One with My Commute
One of the great things about using public transportation on my daily commute is the walk from home to the subway station. Along my half-mile route, I really get the opportunity to be part of the neighborhood, to be aware of my surroundings in a way that isn't...
The One with the Aerobed
There are two irrefutable facts about living in New York City: It is easier (and probably more life-affirming) to get to the summit of Mount Everest, than to get across town in Manhattan. To achieve the latter, you will need a minimum of three subway transfers, a...
The One with Washington's Face
Despite living within spitting distance of a dozen world-class museums, I haven't stepped foot inside any of them in a long, long time. Problem is, once you live here for a while you tend to, well, live here. There are errands to run and clothes to wash and the little...
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