General Topics
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Covering My Head: On Grief
2020 was very challenging for me for reasons unrelated to the pandemic. As I reflect, it was difficult not only because of the tragedies themselves but also because of their proximity to one another. I remember when I got jumped on as a teen by a group of girls in Chicago. Another quickly followed each… Continue reading
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We Get Better at Writing by Writing
When I was a child, I always carried a diary, journal, or notebook, and I would write about what was happening in my life each day, with dates and everything. When my cousin got jumped so badly that one side of his face was swollen, I wrote about how terrifying it was to see him… Continue reading
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The Amazon Bestseller Approach: A Warning
In the words of James Baldwin, “If I love you, I have to make you conscious of what you don’t see.” Here’s the Game: Once upon a time, when print-on-demand publishing became more popular thanks to companies like Amazon and Lulu, self-published authors discovered a powerful manipulation tactic: they could reach a higher ranking by… Continue reading
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Joy Lived Here Too
My husband’s cousins came over to get some Italian Beef meat we brought back from Chicago. We had frozen it for them. They stayed for hours, most of the time comprised of us sitting around the table catching up. Although we have been married for almost 14 years, there are still family members of his… Continue reading
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Why The Tree Does Not Complain About Losing Its Leaves
I love the beauty of nature and how paying attention to it helps me to understand life better. I mean, we are of the earth, after all. It amazes me how we can come from the dirt and assume no connection to it. So, anywho, as I sat here reminiscing about everyone I’ve lost over… Continue reading
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One More Game
From my eighth-floor windowI could hear hope bounce back and forthon concrete loitered with crack vials. Dirt-caked Nikes were like handsreaching for revolutionin the air. It didn’t get them out of the projects,but Jordan would have been proudthe way these boys balled. It kept their bodies distracted from the hungerof not eating for three days.Here,… Continue reading
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