My family’s long hidden truth had lasting consequences — Months before my grandmother died of cancer, she told her daughter a secret. She wanted her to know the truth about her date of birth. …

Our joy is stronger than your hatred — Dear homophobic preacher dude, I don’t know if you’re actually a pastor or just some rando who decided a good way to spend a Tuesday night would be to picket outside a concert. Either way, you were incredibly obnoxious standing there holding your sign, shouting into your microphone, and spewing…

On strawberries, sunshine, and saltwater — “Car rides to Malibu, strawberry ice cream, one spoon for two” — Olivia Rodrigo, deja vu When I arrived in Malibu on a glorious August day, I stepped onto the sandy beach and ran to greet the ocean as her waves rushed up to meet me in a joyous reunion…

That’s only one of many reasons why JD Vance is a bad choice for Ohio — Venture capitalist turned Ohio Republican candidate for senate, JD Vance, rose to prominence with the publication of his bestselling 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy and its subsequent 2020 Netflix movie adaption. In it, he tells the story of “a family and culture in crisis”, his Appalachian roots, and what it was…

From the novel that inspired ‘Dracula’ to a few modern takes on the tale, here are 4 recommendations for your Halloween reading list — Spooky season is officially here, and one of the things I enjoy most about this time of year is curling up with a scary story on a dark and cloudy night when the full moon is hiding behind a veil of and mist and clouds. That’s not just me, right? …

Entering the 10-word story challenge — I was inspired by Shereen Bingham to give the 10-word story challenge a try, so I’ve written nine 10-word stories inspired by my day-to-day life. Here it goes! Twenty dollar bouquet of farmer’s market flowers brings me joy 2. Sitting at a stoplight as a monarch butterfly meanders by 3…

a poem for my childhood best friend — do you remember when we were 13 years old and deeply insecure? you hid it under a layer of perfect hair, makeup, and new clothes you were boy crazy and loud all bright smiles and dirty jokes I was quiet and lonely always hiding in my shell until you pulled me…

Relinquishing the fear of failing to live up to my potential — Mark Twain once told a story of a man who spent his entire life searching for the greatest general in the world, but to no avail. When he died and went to heaven, he asked St. Peter to show him the greatest general. But the man was confused upon seeing…

A spooky nature poem — a chilly spring evening the vivid blue sky softly fades to white then gold the yellow glow of the sinking sun shines brightly from behind bare trees the roar of rushing water a comforting backdrop powerful yet peaceful I make my way into the forest treetops swaying gently in the breeze all…