Essay Contest

I’ve never faced a moment where I couldn’t afford to eat, pay my rent, or worried while my kids suffered from lack. But I’ve hurt as friends of mine struggle in poverty. I’ve seen what happens when people don’t have places to live. I’ve watched the aftermath of cops kicking the homeless out from one of the few places they could find to rest.

Statistics say that kids in poverty are less likely than ever to pull themselves out of it. Math problems don’t cover the visceral fear of failing to feed and house your family, though. …

And may the odds be ever in your favor — Effie Trinket, (Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)

Since March 2020, a good majority of the world’s population has been antsy for Covid protection. We watched as people became willing guinea pigs. We gasped when vaccines and life-saving treatments failed to pan out. Mostly, we all twiddled our thumbs. We dreamed of the days when we could sit in large, enclosed, open areas without wondering if we were all passing around mankind’s worst gift like an STI you cannot get rid of.

Frankly, it has been a long haul to be…

My dog died yesterday.

The world spins. My life is in a holding pattern.

I’m always pandemic ready. I can calculate death percentages in populations and infectivity rates. My family taught me how to store food and prepare for emergencies. I keep in touch with loved ones. We feel lucky to be alive.

I buried her yesterday.

We fixed up and sold our house. My main worry was how my elderly dogs would take the move. I needn’t have worried. They were happy to be with us. Their world expanded with more people and dogs.

We adapted. My dogs enjoyed…

Every morning, I go through the same routine. I make my bed then invite the dogs onto the bed. I move from there to opening curtains, watering flowers, and putting away yesterday’s dry dishes. All the while, I attempt to register my steps on my phone’s live-in pedometer.

It’s not easy. Do I shove it in my PJ pants and hope it doesn’t slide down my leg again? Did I wear a shirt where I can nestle it safely without my phone jumping out in attempted base-jumping? And, wow, what am I going to wear today? …

I can’t believe you touched that.

A whole year has passed since Covid became the big thing that everyone avoids, like the plague. Trapped inside, we’ve all spent time staring at our possessions, our projects, and our inability to get rid of things.

Life continues. Recyclable trash accumulates. We’re all buried in stuff to do that requires other people to do it.

Last year, besides moving my mother-in-law, we also moved. As always, the time to declutter and donate happens before packing. I’m an organizer — it’s a thing.

We’re rounding out our year here in the apartment and planning…

Anyone, who has any hopes of finding a job, is on LinkedIn. While I’m not currently looking for a job, even I fell prey to the social media demand that I display myself like a wild peacock looking for admiration.

At first, I joined LinkedIn because my business school made it part of a graded assignment. I thought, “Sure, this is fine.” LinkedIn lured me in further with candied promises that stealing my contacts’ list and stalking them on my behalf would mean more jobs. LinkedIn even assured me that the more connections I made, the more employers would view…