When addiction first crept into our household 11 years ago, I started keeping a journal. Retreating to clean white paper became my refuge. The blank pages stared back, non-judgmental and welcoming. On their unvarnished surface I poured out my anguish, fear, confusion and shame. It was the only place – until many years later – …
In a world that sometimes feels too crowded, there is this: “loneliness” is one of America’s newest plagues. Feelings of isolation can lead to other ailments and even trigger premature death. Addiction loves loneliness, thrives on it. Like an insidious infection, it envelops abusers quickly and lethally – and those around them, too. After that …
My father used to call it a “Chamber of Commerce” event. He always said Mother’s Day was drummed up to boost candy sales and restaurant reservations. Father’s Day, too Growing up I sometimes wondered if he said that to take pressure off my brother and me from digging into our allowance to come up with …