May 2012
19 posts
I made some new friends in Louisiana, including this guy:
My friend Ben pointed out that “friends don’t tape each other’s mouths shut,” but he clearly doesn’t understand the connection between me and this baby alligator.
this one's for the ladies
Three years ago, on a ridiculously hot Memorial Day Weekend, I was followed into my apartment building by a man in a ski mask.
I didn’t realize he was wearing a ski mask until later.
Back then, my friends and I all lived within six blocks of each other, and we’d parted ways at the cheezy 80s dance club in our neighborhood. We didn’t think to walk each other home, since we were practically home anyway. What was a few extra blocks?
So it was dark, 2am, and I was alone in the front hallway of my apartment building. I don’t remember hearing a noise and am not sure why I turned around. But for some reason I did, and saw a man standing at the other end, as if he’d just entered.
melissa tells me what it’s like to teach in chicago
This is a series in which you help me learn about America.
Melissa (daughter of Charles!) was born and raised in Iowa. She currently teaches in Chicago, in a high school that has been deemed a “drop-out factory,” where 100% of her students qualify for free or reduced lunch. I’ve always thought about becoming a teacher, and was curious to learn the realities of her job. I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did! And if you’re considering this profession, you should definitely check it out!
debbie tells me about growing up first generation american
This is a series in which you help me learn about America.
Debbie was born and raised near Los Angeles, by her parents, who emigrated from Korea. Today, she lives in Chicago, where she’s getting a PhD in public policy. I really enjoyed hearing about her parents and the values she’s learned from them, and I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did!
tre's piece in the daily beast
whiteelephantintheroom, also known as Tre (I always forget she has a first name that’s not “White Elephant”), wrote about reuniting with her daughter 17 years after giving her up for adoption. Click here to read if you haven’t already.
It’s LUMINOUS!
cat tells me about being an army wife
This is a series in which you help me learn about America.
Cat, 27, is an army wife and bookkeeper whose husband is currently stationed in Afghanistan. Since they married in 2009, Cat and her husband have lived in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina, where they’re currently based. I was so excited to learn about her life, and I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did!
kally tells me about growing up on a commune, off the grid
This is a series in which you help me learn about America.
Kally is a self-described “second generation hippie,” who grew up with no electricity or running water near Rhode Island. Her parents still live there, but now she’s in Boston (with modern amenities). I was thrilled to learn more about her experience, and I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did!
You grew up in a commune, but… what does that even mean?
For us, it meant hosting an inclusive community of 20 to 50 like-minded people. Some families lived with us in the house or in various outbuildings. Others stayed in teepees in the woods. Now that I think about it, seems like everyone had a teepee? But most people just lived nearby and spent a lot of time at our house.
barry tells me about race relations in the US, giving up his seat for a white lady, and more
This is a series in which you help me learn about America.
Barry is a 50 year-old African-American man who was born Jackson, Tennessee and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Today he lives in Brighton, Michigan (about 40 miles west of Detroit), and works at Ford Motor Company as an Engineer with his wife of 21 years and 13 year-old daughter. He was kind enough to tell me about his take on race relations in the US, and I hope you find his stories as interesting as I did!
“But, frankly, if I want to write a large-scale work, increasing my strength and stamina is a must, and I believe this is something worth doing, or at least that doing it is much better than not. This is a trite observation, but as they say: If something’s worth doing, it’s worth giving it your best—or in some cases beyond your best. To deal with something unhealthy, a person needs to be as healthy as possible. That’s my motto. In other words, an unhealthy soul requires a healthy body.”
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Who wants to argue with Haruki Murakami in What I Talk About When I Talk About Running? NOT ME!
Thanks, Aarthi for sending me this quote. And thanks, Rich, for your post on Monday. Once I get a third sign, I’ll be convinced that this is not a coincidence and that the universe is, in fact, telling me to resume jogging after my ten-year hiatus.
a farmer tells me about her life
This is a series in which you help me be less of a dum-dum about America. I’ve been thrilled to hear from some of you, and hope to feature everyone who has expressed interest.
Naimhe Jeanne (pronounced NEE-vah Jeen; Naimhe is a Gaelic name) is a farmer living in Northwestern Illinois, just outside the Wisconsin border. She lives on what’s called a “farmette,” meaning it’s just shy of 15 acres. I didn’t know anything about this world, and was so curious to learn about the life of a lady farmer! Hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did!
