A Young Mike Tyson (Understanding the Bittersweet “Phenomenon Effect”)
In a literary context, I’ve always seen myself as a young Mike Tyson. The proverbial bad guy (dressed in black). The antihero. At 20 years old, Mike…
Trauma Two Times Over: Developing Breast Cancer as a Result of Being a First Responder During 9/11
Having witnessed the surreal and horrific attacks on September 11 from the street in front of my Greenwich Village office, I shared the shock and…
6 to 6: Drano
It was not possible to pass a kidney stone the size of a golf ball. Cory wouldn’t be able to work until after the surgery, which was in a couple of…
6 to 6: The Hot Light
My ear sweats with the cell phone pressed against it. Riiinnnnnggggg. Riiinnnnnggggg. Riiinnnnnggggg. Riiinnnnnggggg. Riiinnnnnggggg. Riiinnn...…
Florida Man
There has been much debate about why so many bizarre stories come out of Florida. Some say it’s because the state is full of transient people, and…
Leaping Over the Butchers of Wayne, New Jersey
With a head start, I charged and disappeared into my beloved woods. I knew each stone, branch, and hill from my childhood when I played cowboys and…
6 to 6: A Day with Melanie
Melanie’s talking as she walks up the sidewalk toward my cab. She’s talking as she opens the door. She’s talking as I ask her where she wants to go.…
6 to 6: Grocery Day
Francisca Verdugo needs to go to Food City. I’m a few minutes early, so I sit in my cab and wait for her to come out. The sun shines down on the big…
Recipe for Cut Motherhood
Take one soulful, loyal best friend: Spot, the family dog, a mostly Beagle mutt with black and brown spotted white fur, a twinkle of compassionate…
6 to 6: A Pair to Draw To
It’s too early for this shit. The sun is an ember under a bear rug, and I’m full of vinegar. I pull my cab up to the trailer park to find the gates…
