America – Anne the Vegan

What’s Old to Americans is New in Europe

How old is old, anyway? One of our tour guides in Oxford scoffed at our group’s idea of old, as she casually pointed out that one of the buildings we were standing beside was built in 1249 and was a stunning example of Gothic style. What do you consider old? I’m an American. When IContinue reading “What’s Old to Americans is New in Europe”

Can We Blame Ayn Rand for the Selfishness of Americans?

I had no idea the author was so controversial My daughters and I are avid readers, so taking multiple books on vacation is a given. For my recent trip to London, my older daughter suggested that I read one of her favorite books: Anthem by Ayn Rand. Of course, I waited until the last minuteContinue reading “Can We Blame Ayn Rand for the Selfishness of Americans?”

I Have Been Transformed Into a Snot Factory

The souvenir nobody wanted is mine The most significant souvenir from my trip in the immediate days back home is a summer cold. It’s no wonder, with days on end of little sleep so we didn’t miss out on anything fun, logging well over 15,000 steps each day, with multiple hours in spaces with lotsContinue reading “I Have Been Transformed Into a Snot Factory”

Back to the 1950’s?

“All Longwood girls are loose and stupid!” my professor exclaimed on our first day of class. Did he know I was a Longwood girl? Surely not. And although my personal sex life was none of his business, I did make it my business to prove to him that I was, in fact, pretty smart. IContinue reading “Back to the 1950’s?”

Burn the White Flag

Waking up to day 3 in a post-Roe America is surreal. I had another piece on this topic prepared for today, but it didn’t seem very cohesive, so I started again. Since Friday, I have felt so many different emotions: humiliation, panic, rage, numbness, complete and utter sorrow, and reliving my childhood assault once again.Continue reading “Burn the White Flag”

Code D

As long as I’ve worked in a hospital setting, there has only been one time that this code was called. That day, of course, was September 11, 2001. It was a beautiful late summer day on the east coast that was so crisp, so bright, that you felt a bit optimistic about the arrival ofContinue reading “Code D”

Do we deserve vacation?

I’m currently pondering this question as I sit on the balcony of the condo where I’m vacationing in Myrtle Beach. I think Americans ask this question frequently. It’s a by-product of staunch meritocracy beliefs in our society, I think, to think that we must work, work, work with little play. It’s also seemingly the foundationContinue reading “Do we deserve vacation?”

Mass Shootings are as American as Apple Pie

Here we go again. When will enough be enough? Who has to die at the hands of yet another hysterical gunman to make the issue of gun control something that our lawmakers are actually willing to tackle? Or are we going to keep throwing our hands up, saying, “It is what it is. Can’t stopContinue reading “Mass Shootings are as American as Apple Pie”

Just breathe….

Hallelujah! We have a shiny, new President and the first female Vice President of the United States. Both of them have the experience, temperament, and appropriate focus to actually lead this nation out of darkness. It felt like it took forever to get here. “We must end this uncivil war.” President Joe Biden The tyrannyContinue reading “Just breathe….”