Published Essays About Reactions in the wild Contact

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Published Essays

Vail Daily •

Opinion | Chacos: Why is a graduation tassel so important?

In a breath the room fell silent. Even the baby wailing throughout the entire ceremony seemed to know something important was about to happen and stifled another uncomfortable cry. It would be years before the fidgeting young adults in stiff caps and itchy gowns would appreciate the high-stakes emotions coming from the audience. Many in attendance worked hard at keeping their feelings in check and will exhale when the ceremony concludes. The soon-to-be graduates simply want to say good riddance...
AspenTimes •

A flair for small rebellions

Back in high school, I shaved part of my long hair and permed the rest in an attempt to be edgy. “Edgy” was not what my family nor my teachers used to describe the gnarly mess atop my head. My decision skills being what they were at the time, I then went and dyed part of it purple. I believed my hair to be a puce masterpiece, both bold and dramatic at the same time. I was secretly pleased with how others would contort their faces upon seeing me, as if they were squaring off with Medusa in a dark...
Vail Daily •

If I don’t get caught speeding am I breaking the law?

The cost of the rental car was a bargain, yet the driving ticket that casually came in the mail after I returned home was not. Weeks earlier, I was driving in another country on the wrong side of the road navigating a manual transmission with constant traffic. I was being brave and bold trying to model strength to my daughter sitting scared in the passenger seat. To make matters worse, there were funny-looking street signs posted all over the place.
AspenTimes •

The art of gift giving

I cursed the package delivered to my doorstep and let the box sit on my kitchen counter for a couple of days, unmoved and unopened. I knew it was another present from the fabulous friend that raises the gift-giving stakes one dazzling offering at a time. She curates every gift as if raised by deep-sea pearl divers and then exquisitely wraps everything with the care you’d expect from someone who sadistically bombs gift boxes with glitter and colored tissue paper.
Post Independent •

The summer slowdown

June is when the vibe in the air changes and my winter malaise magically melts. I wake from a hibernation that puts me out of social commission for many months of the year and I say good riddance to winter and its long, bipolar shoulder season. No more confusion when to put on a waterproof snowsuit or take my chances with shorts and flip-flops when heading out the door for the day. I tuck away my underutilized skis, my self-diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and my introverted moodines...
AspenTimes •

Beware — a redhead ahead

Generations of gingers have burdened my family with fiery attitudes and overly assertive personalities. My redheaded grandmother was a strong-willed, intense Hungarian. My mother is the same. I was also born possessed by a deep desire for self-control, perfection, and require frequent reminders to take my surly, “know-it-all” attitude down a notch. Hating my red hair and the hot-headed temperament that comes with it has always been at the top of a list too long and sad to print here.
AspenTimes.com •

When your car’s license plate stands out in the crowd

I drove through the four-way stop sign without slowing down or stopping because I didn’t even see it. Someone to my left pressed on their car horn so passionately that I thought I was the star in some sappy Hallmark movie. I slammed on the brakes before hitting a pedestrian in the crosswalk and then proceeded to roll through the intersection in indecisive fits, waving apologetically in all four cardinal directions.
PostIndependent.com •

Why we love and hate the family chores

I ignored the heated dispute by pretending to be an overworked human resources executive and prayed the team would utilize the problem-solving skills I’ve been coaching them on for years. Soon I heard a door slam, a few zesty words that would make a kindergarten teacher blush, and the whirr of a lawn mower. The other teenager dramatically dragged the vacuum out of the closet and then washed the sink’s dirty dishes as if teasing them to break.
VailDaily.com •

The devil is in the details

My son likes to quote, “Manners maketh man” whenever he sees humankind acting in ways that disrupt his sense of order. I get excited when he speaks like this, not because I raised a son whose command of etiquette would make Emily Post proud, but because I perversely enjoy seeing people behaving recklessly in the wild. It’s like going to the zoo to gawk at orangutans except human beings are more fun because we were taught to pick our noses and fornicate in private.
VailDaily.com •

How to leave the party with a walking taco

I worked my way toward the door looking for a way to leave the party although I was still having a good time. I had already mingled with friends, contributed to the potluck feast, and wished the guest of honor a happy birthday. I even gave the host a small gift upon my arrival because I knew I wanted to depart a couple of hours later without so much as a goodbye when my bed and a book called me home. I despised the effort in long, drawn-out goodbyes, and preferred a quick and quiet exit instead....
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