“No, no, no.” Lilian takes one look at me and grimaces. We haven’t stepped outside, and already she’s regretting inviting me to her friend’s party. I can’t blame her, though. I don’t want me there either. It’s comfortable at home. Well, her home. A four-bedroom, two-story dwelling in central New Jersey, where my mother moved ...

There are no Govern-mansOnly Éowyn and she is the Queen.Her brother shows her a map,Tells her they live in America,Repeats ‘representative democracy’And other words he’s heard in school.“No we don’t,” she insists.“We live on Earth. And I’m the Queen.”He asks exactly what she is the queen of.“Earth,” her Royal Majesty replies.She’ll be four next monthAnd ...

Pangea gripped the cold metal of the polished mirror and slumped in her green chair. Tears tumbled down her face. Her eyes were the color of storm-tossed seas because of the images that flashed across the cold, clear glass every time she looked at it. The pollution of a packaged society sickened her. Pangea’s veins ...

Cancer: The word means nothing to most people. But to the people who have it, or those close to them, the word means everything.

Mom kept pacing the living room, back and forth, not saying a word. It would have been easier if she just had just come out and told us how disappointed she was, announced our punishments, and sent us to our rooms. She wanted us to apologize, to explain. Finally, I could not stand the silence ...

What if someone is struggling with a problem, mental illness, or physical limitations, and you decide to terminate the relationship? Does this make you a “bad” person? What if this person is toxic? Do you stay because they still need help? At what point do you say enough is enough? I am a huge believer ...

There’s something special about seeing a movie in theaters for the first time. The lights go out. The opening music starts to play. For two hours, you can forget your problems and sink into a world created to entertain you. I love watching movies. It’s one of my favorite ways to connect with people. The ...

The photo’s a bit dated if you’ve seen me recently, but it’s easily one of my favorite nice pictures with my brother and sister. Hannah is a dash of crazy and a hint of silly, the kind of kid that would dance in the middle of the street to make someone laugh. She’s determined to ...

As the oldest of three children, I’ll admit that my relationship with my siblings is not always sunshine and rainbows. I’d hate to lie about that and give someone the wrong idea about having a sibling. We have more than our fair share of fighting. Sometimes, it feels like World War 3 is waging in ...