“I hate to say it,” my dad said, “but you’re getting a little heavy.” A miracle, really, when you consider my base weight of 50 pounds. I was a baby for the longest time. A young adult in a preteen body. One of my biggest challenges…
Columns
This week is my first work anniversary here at SMA News Today. It’s crazy to think that I’ve had this spectacular job for an entire year. There are so many things that I could tell you about this past year, but instead, I’d like to take…
My body has never handled stress well. Come to think of it, does anyone respond well to stress? Typically, my body reacts to stress in the form of gastrointestinal issues. This comes as no surprise considering I’ve dealt with acid reflux disease…
It was a sad time when our dear Potter had to be put to sleep because he had T-cell lymphoma. Our entire family went along for that, including Potter’s sister, Ginny. We knew our 3-year-old dog wouldn’t make it, so before he left us, we contacted a…
Editor’s note: This column discusses some of the plot of Netflix’s documentary film “Crip Camp.” A new Netflix documentary called “Crip Camp” opens with an eclectic credits sequence set to the tune of “For What it’s Worth…
I keep hearing about “making the most of quarantine.” Learn a new skill! Finish that book you’ve been reading for months! Plant a garden! The possibilities are endless. The issue is that productivity and survival are two sides of the trauma response…
My cellphone vibrated atop my kneecap. I glanced down at the screen. An alert emerged from a local news app: A case of COVID-19 had been identified in my small city. I was sitting in our living room with a grateful heart, looking out the windows as the downy glow…
School books, folders, random scratch paper, art supplies, food, drinks. All of this lay aimlessly on our kitchen table. Until recently, my children — Ava, Henry, and Ella — spent much of their day at the table. There, they engaged in e-learning, arts and crafts, and eating. We…
A blue body cast covered me from my waist down. The pain in my right leg skyrocketed each time I moved. I intentionally tried to avoid going to the bathroom, because I couldn’t endure the misery of transferring out of my bed. Just the sight of my mobile…
I cried, really cried, for the first time last week. My mom is working from home (WFH) and has transformed our basement into a makeshift office. My dad has become my full-time caregiver. Our cat, Josie, has been forced into quarantine with…
