THIS IS US
Bureaucracy’s role in poverty
The new Netflix series, Maid, is the story of a young mother escaping an abusive husband to make a safe life for herself. There are many obstacles in her quest to provide for her child, but perhaps none as large and infuriating as government bureaucracy. More importantly, the government bureaucracy…
PAST IS PROLOGUE
Forty years ago, New York Rocker sent me to review a new, unknown downtown band.
About two days after I’d moved to the Meat Packing District in fall 1981, from my first NYC apartment in Greenwich Village, the urge to write about music resurfaced. Though I’d maintained a sporadic journal since leaving Ohio that spring, I longed for the motivation of an official assignment, not…
THIS IS US
In Memory of Natalie Portman the Chicken, a Rooster
Some stories need exaggeration to make them interesting. This one doesn't. Every word is true.
The Human Babies
My friend Kelly and I were pregnant at the same time. Our babies grew to be soybean-sized, then avocado-sized, and then spaghetti squash-sized. We had the same due date and figured our babies would be…
HUMANS 101
A scaredy-cat demystifies courage
I’m a scaredy-cat. I imagine worst-case scenarios like it’s my job. I’m liable to jump or yelp by the mere unannounced light touch of a friend. I get nervous when introducing myself (don’t ask me why my own name trips me up). …
THIS IS US
An instant dose of perspective: I made it home last night. Some people didn’t.
I pulled into the line of stopped traffic headed for the bridge. I glanced at my watch: 4:53 pm. Rush hour, but it’s never like this. I could see the bridge in the distance up ahead and to my right. There was no traffic on it, and lights were flashing…
LIVED THROUGH THIS
For way too long, I responded to danger by freezing
“The worst thing you can do is the thing you’ll want to do most,” the park ranger explains.
I’m standing with three friends under a tent at Apgar ranger station in Glacier National Park, allowing mosquitos to dance around my legs. …
PLANET SOUL
Weekly horoscopes from astrologer Rob Brezsny
Here’s what I learned from living with one of earth’s most hated animals.
Editor’s Note: This Medium Writers Challenge entry was added to Human Parts on October 20, 2021.
Few creatures are as maligned as the rooster. I suppose there are cockroaches, mosquitoes, sewer rats, and aphids — but I can’t come up with any birds that are quite so hated (even pigeons…
This essay is about narcotics and other lifesaving therapies.
I dated a functioning cocaine addict once and we almost got married. Al. That was his real name and I’m remembering it now because it is tattooed on my bicep and seven years removed from the relationship, I still don’t regret…
Like you’re dressed as you for Halloween.
Like starting a new season of a TV show, where your favorite character has a different haircut.
Like you’re Mary-Kate dressed as Ashley.
Like you got a tattoo of your face… over your face.
Like seeing your third-grade teacher in tennis shoes.
Like seeing your doctor in falsies.
Like seeing…
Human Parts
A publication from Medium about humanity: yours, mine, and ours.
