Way before I knew about SSRIs or other meds, I was introduced to my friend alcohol.  Like a lot of teens in the 80s, I tried wine coolers, beer, and sips of my dad’s liquor, but I never got drunk, for real drunk, until the drama club Sea Escape cruise. Growing up in South Florida,... Continue Reading →

“Well, you don’t even look upset!” Dr. M. said with awkward incredulousness, as he leaned back in his chair and stared at me across his desk.  He had just fired me from the Graduate Assistant program in the English Department at FAU for “abandonment.” “Were you expecting me to cry or something?” I stared back,... Continue Reading →

I just watched Kevin Smith’s Trauma is Trauma talk. Yes, I’m talking about the Silent Bob dude. If you haven’t watched it yet, please do, whether or not you feel like you have experienced trauma.  Spoiler alert: you have. Throughout the video Kevin talks about his childhood trauma, focusing on sexual abuse and body shaming.... Continue Reading →

When I was nine and in fourth grade, my mother attempted to become independent from Raul.  You see, he was helping her pay the rent and other bills, so she kept him around even though he dislocated her jaw a couple of times and drove us home while drunk, probably not in the same evening,... Continue Reading →

“You never had PRIME RIB?!” Terri yelled, her head in her refrigerator with only her dark curls and Smurf pajamas visible to me.  Her parents were still asleep and she was searching for something we could have for breakfast instead of cereal.  And she had struck gold – her parents’ leftovers from their date the... Continue Reading →

I walked in from reading by the pool and immediately saw my Teddy Bear, named Ted as all Teddy Bears should be, hanging from the white metal frame of my mom’s must-have swing chair.  When I say hanging, I don’t mean that Ted’s paws were wrapped around the frame as though he were a kid... Continue Reading →

I’ve been lying to myself and others every time I have said that I never found a blond gentleman attractive.  Apparently, I forgot about Joe.  I met Joe in 6th grade at McNichol Middle school, in PE class, which is the worst place for someone like me to make a first impression.  I stood there,... Continue Reading →

            “How much did you drink?” my mom said, with annoyance in her voice.  I had seen the hall light come on mid-puke and knew that I was going to have to deal with her somehow.  I was 17; I just wanted to puke alone.             I looked up from my spot on the floor... Continue Reading →

I was in the back seat of Dan’s car when I met Tom.  No, this wasn’t another wine cooler occasion.  I was hanging out with Dan, his girlfriend, and a couple of friends.  We were driving around the plaza where everyone hung out back in the day.  There was a movie theater with seven screens. ... Continue Reading →