IMHO many of our most traditional and sacred holidays have serious and divisive issues, whether because of complicated legacies, suboptimal family dynamics, or the exclusion of large swaths of our fellow citizens.
Month: June 2020
The Tilley-Blandin Family Saga, Explained
This spring, when my wife suggested that I spent some of the pandemic in a useful exercise by writing short stories, I decided to write a short story set in the fall of 2020, based on what how a young woman would spend her $1,200 government stimulus checks. As I imagined her backstory, a family emerged. I decided to write a series of stories about this family, the Tilley-Blandin’s, set against the backdrop of a country facing several crises on the cusp of the Presidential election. The stories just emerged out of me.
The Life of Huey Newton Wallace Matters, or What Really Happened on the Fourth of July 2020
His father explained to him why he had been named after Huey Newton, one of the leaders of the Black Panthers. “Huey knew who he was,” his father told him. “He was comfortable in his own skin. I want you to like who you are because of your skin.”
Ingrid Wept
In her mind, Ingrid divided the tear into three co-equal parts.
Ingrid and Hopper Seek Counseling on Zoom
Hopper reached for her hand, which she accepted. They gently squeezed hands in a way that reminded her of the same way they had squeezed hands during marriage counseling before their divorce.
Hopper’s 15 Minutes of Peace Amid the Pandemic
Sometimes, sweet Jesus Lord of all that is holy and mighty in this universe, I just wish mom and dad had installed an outhouse on this godforsaken property so a guy could get some privacy and a place to just think without his ex-wife pounding on the door asking when I’m going to be done.
What Jesus Plans to Do for Father’s Day
First, promise Dad that you will spend more time with the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is your way of saying that you will spend more time with Him because you and Dad use your mother as a conduit for your feelings for each other.
The Secrets of Miss Olympia Tilley-Blandin
Since tweendom, they shared secrets with each other to which no one else was privy. The Tilley-Blandin Sisters Secret File. Every year, over pizza at John’s of Bleecker Street, they shared a single new secret, ranked it compared to previous years’ secrets, wrote them down, and put them in a safe place.
Ode to My Facial Hair
Transform your face into a canvas Allow your whiskers to fly their flags of freak Hipsters and oldsters alike seek the status Of the mustache, beard, or goatee that is so chic
My White Privilege
So far this week, one of my favorite comedians, Amber Ruffin, has recorded three stories on YouTube about her run-ins with the police. In these stories, Amber recounts how she was doing literally nothing to arouse suspicion from any sentient creature, but she ends of being threatened by white police officers. Let me take you back to my own run-in with the cops to illustrate white privilege.
Third Ed Novak 