Embracing My Inner Alien
— Kevin Schaefer

My caregivers give me a wedgie every morning. I’ll let that image settle into your brain before I elaborate. This part of my routine bears no resemblance to the act of torture commonly featured in teenage movies. It’s still uncomfortable, but necessary in my case. Once my morning caregivers, usually…

When I was in Washington, D.C., last October for a Cure SMA advocacy conference, I used the Metro station to get to and from the city’s Capitol building. I hadn’t taken a train or subway in years, and my blatant lack of direction as I fumbled through the…

The film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” features parallel universes, sprawling action sequences, and images involving hot dogs that viewers will never forget. It’s a highly cinematic, cross-genre epic. But at its core, it’s a movie about family and relationships. The film’s two central characters are a mother…

My brother and sister-in-law recently took my nephews to see “Paw Patrol Live!” when the show came to our area. Anyone who has kids under the age of 5 is likely familiar with the popular animated series about a canine police force. The live show brings these characters…

In the 1989 comedy film “See No Evil, Hear No Evil,” the protagonists redefine the phrase “unlikely heroes.” Wally (Richard Pryor) is blind, Dave (Gene Wilder) is deaf, and both are professionals at getting into trouble. When they find themselves at a murder scene and get framed for…

Note: Spoilers ahead for the novel and play. My dad and I recently saw a play adaptation of Stephen King’s “Misery,” perfect viewing for the spooky season. Anyone familiar with King’s novel or the iconic 1990 film starring Kathy Bates and James Caan knows the story. When novelist…

“I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Frodo says this to Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” He laments that his journey is filled with peril and despair, and he wishes to go…

In the 1995 drama “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” the film’s titular protagonist confronts a boardroom of school administrators during a pivotal third-act scene. Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss), a longtime high school music teacher, refuses to back down when his superiors declare their intention to eliminate the school’s music and…

Note: This column contains spoilers for the musical “Wicked.”  A few weeks ago, I saw the award-winning musical “Wicked” with my sister-in-law. I saw the show back in 2012 with my parents in New York City, and I jumped at the chance to buy tickets when I saw…

In every popular sitcom, there’s always a central setting for the characters to congregate. For some it’s a workplace, such as the Dunder Mifflin branch in “The Office” or the government building in “Parks and Recreation.” Other shows feature a shared living space, such as the geek-decorated apartment in “The…

When I was a kid, I spent many mornings and afternoons sitting on a padded blue bench with a table in front of me. I spent this time playing with my action figures, drawing, and immersing myself in Saturday morning cartoons. Kids, there was a time before streaming services when…

Late August marks the start of a new school year, which still affects me even as a 29-year-old working adult. Though I graduated from college in 2016, my niece is starting first grade, my older nephew starts preschool in a few weeks, and both of my younger nephews are back…