Oh, please, not at work — The word “passion” comes from a centuries-old word that meant “to hurt.” However, through the centuries, its meaning has changed. To hurt — 3000 BC To suffer, as in the suffering of Christ or Christians — 1200s To feel strongly about something — early 1300s To desire something — late…

Or just unusual — Your thumbprint is unique. There is not another thumbprint exactly like yours among all of the 7.8 billion people on this planet. Same with snowflakes: There are 5.2 quintillion of them in a snowstorm, not a single one quite like any other. Each one is unique. Merriam-Webster has four definitions…

A glimmer of hope before the first primary votes are counted — The 2022 midterms begin on May 17. The first primaries will be in Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Idaho. After votes from these states are counted, we’ll have a better glimpse of how the country will go. Until then, I am encouraged by the results of a recent poll…

Creative nonfiction I published as a Medium newby — Back in September 2021 when I became writing on Medium, I was sure all I had to do was post a few stories I had been working on for a while to immediately be listed among the “100 Major Works of Modern Creative Nonfiction.” Little did I realize it would…

Or maybe not — I’m having a brief conversation with a grocery clerk at Albertson’s about her fingernail polish. “Pretty color,” I say. “You like it?” she asks, turning a tomato juice can sideways on the scanner so she can examine the bright pink on her thumbnail. “Love you Lotus,” she says, “Awesome color.” …

You’ll be surprised at some of the rights you thought you had — Here’s the most important paragraph in the U.S. Supreme Court’s draft majority opinion on overturning Roe v. Wade: “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.” According to Samuel Alito, one…

Unfortunately, I just did — One thing I’ve always appreciated about my Silly Lilly is that she’s not a barker. I’m a former dog trainer, but I can’t take credit for this. It’s her breed. The Basenji is one of the oldest breeds in the world, originating perhaps as long ago as 6,000 B.C. They…

Genocide: Just the price of doing business — On April 8, 2022, I published a list of corporations that were refusing to comply with international sanctions against doing business in Russia. The list was compiled by the Yale School of Management. On that date, there were 13 large corporations listed — 13 CEOs for whom it’s just fine…