She holds her thumbs inside each fist to hide the scabby nubs. The moist environment of her hands squeezed tight hosts the spread of the tiny warts that bubble tentatively alongside her nail bed and lower lip. Her hands always seem to be in need of a wash; dirt and paint hide wherever they can …
Tag: negative thinking
The Great Escape
I tried to run away today. My daughter sat on my bed and watched me pack. She told me it was probably a good idea for me to leave since I seemed so upset. This sort of hurt my feelings, but then she added, “This is how I felt last night, I understand” and I …
1980 – I Don’t Do Parades (Unless I’m In It)
I was eight years old when my family made the move from Louisville, Kentucky to New York for my father's job. We had moved quite a bit, but this one was traumatic for all of us. Even though White Plains was an upscale suburb, my parents, not sure what the public schools would be like, …
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Learning to Dance from My Daughter (Who Can’t Dance)
My daughter says she can't dance. Every time she says this, I tell her why that is: She isn't feeling the music. She is so caught up trying to get the moves right she isn't listening. I tell her to pick an instrument and follow it with her body and she looks at me confused …
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Jolie Laide
When I was fifteen, I hosted a French exchange student in my home for a week. Dmitri looked just like the drawings of Jean-Claude in my Tricolore text book with his wavy long hair and hawkish nose. I was crushing hard despite his matchy-matchy pastel sweatsuits that looked like baby onesies. Toward the end of …
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