Quandry
When will she die?
Sometimes I listen to a despicable person – politician, commentator, talk show host – and find myself compelled to run to Wikipedia to find out how old the person is, hoping that he or she is at least ten years older than me, thus reducing the chances that I will have to share the planet with…
Read MoreFree Dive
This is both fascinating and bizarre. Watching the video of this man free dive to the bottom of the deepest pool in the world is both mind boggling and incredible, and yet: 1. I don’t understand the desire to free dive. I cannot fathom (see what I did there?) the desire to swim as deep…
Read MoreMystery machine
The Scooby Doo gang was pretty presumptuous to name their van The Mystery Machine. I realize that they encountered an uncanny and irrational number of criminals trying to cover up crimes by using the ghost story and costume, but still, did they really expect it to continue week after week? Who could assume that after…
Read MoreI don’t sleep like a robot. Or Frankenstein. Do I?
I’m teaching storytelling at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health this week. This morning, I returned to my room to find a note from housekeeping: “You don’t need to make the bed.” I laughed. I didn’t make the bed. When I went to sleep last night, I climbed onto the bed and simply fell asleep…
Read MoreSo many jokes. Such little ears.
Elysha and I brought the kids to Action Safari this weekend. Stretching the meaning of the words “action” and “safari,” this attraction features a taxidermy museum that made me sad. Even worse than the enormous number of stuffed animals was the moment Clara called out, “Daddy, what’s a dik dik?” You can imagine my confusion. …
Read MoreOne man. Two dozen women. A bunch of interesting questions.
This summer I’ll be spending a week teaching at Miss Porter’s School, a boarding and day school for girls located in Farmington, CT. This only makes sense. From 1996-1999, I attended an all-women’s college, and ever since graduating, I have continued to live in a female world. As an elementary school teacher for almost 20…
Read MoreI made an old woman cry. Was I wrong?
I’m standing in line at McDonald’s, waiting patiently to order my daily Egg McMuffin. The woman in front of me is having a problem. She’s an old lady in the truest sense of the word. She’s as crooked as a question mark and is holding a cane. She’s ordered a “Big Breakfast Egg McMuffin” and…
Read MoreWarning: Women with handbags crossing
Do you know what this sign warns motorists about? It’s okay if you don’t. Why would you? It has NOTHING to do with the purpose of the sign. Answer below. The sign indicates a school crossing, even though it more closely resembles two women with handbags rather than any child crossing the street. Can you…
Read MoreBeautiful but temporary: Why would an artist ever choose such a fleeting medium?
This is remarkable, beautiful, unbelievable, and maddeningly temporary. You must watch. It’s hard to imagine why someone so talented would create art that lasts for such a short period of time. Perhaps he doesn’t suffer from the existential crisis that plagues me.
Read MoreI lost a “friend” this week in an interesting, baffling, and amusing way
A few years ago, I met a man in a workshop that I conducted for would-be authors on finding a literary agent. He was earnest, enthusiastic, and hopeful. He liked the workshop a great deal. He later became a friend on Facebook and would occasionally attend my storytelling shows. Last week, I received an email…
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