Let’s start with something less charged. What about a baby hippo and a century-old turtle? In late December 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated parts of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India spread its shockwaves across the ocean towards Africa. Eight hours after an earthquake ruptured the ocean floor, thrusting it forcibly upwards over…

Really. I think you should take a seat. Sit down with me. I am not even going to get into how different “please, sit down” is from “please sit down”: the latter being an authoritative command whereas I hope you can sense my entreaty comes with courtesy, humility, gentleness, and empathy. We are both so…

When I go for walks with my two younger children, my four year old is careful to warn me: “Make sure you don’t step on any leaf turtles, Mommy!” A leaf turtle is a familiar member of our family, but perhaps not yours. Tumbling on the road alongside our feet, lifted up and twirled in…

Have you heard the one where an introvert walks into a bar? As she sits alone watching the theater of people talking, laughing, and mingling, a man sidles up next to her and asks if he can buy her a drink. She says ‘sure’ and nods to the bartender who picks up her glass and…

This post is cross-posted to my other blog, across between and beyond. Read here or on my other site. to the friend I lost We met in preschool. I came home one day and told my mother I wanted a playdate with “the girl with one eye.” You wore an eyepatch because of a required…