How a Do-It-Yourself laundry machine repair revealed the price of staying clean. — Eventually, the inner chamber would become a fungus frat party dirtier than a Miami spring break. The ATM fee was $3.25 to withdraw $20. I needed to withdraw cash, feed it into another machine, get quarters, and insert the coins into a dryer, to finish my laundry. The dryer cost…

I didn’t realize what it was like until I literally walked in six-inch heels.

The trauma of dating an older gay man — A quarter-life of school, being closeted, coming out, and experimenting. It was a crisp day in December, 1999. On the last Thursday of the century, time swirled like water going down a drain. It seemed like all of Manhattan was throwing cocktail parties for coworkers before leaving to be with family and “Party Like it’s 1999,” … literally. William was…

Fire, water, air, and earth, the elements of our existence always provide inspiration.

How a book changed my life and opened the door to happiness. — “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” ― Napoleon Hill Don’t Take Anything Personal Backstage at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, I sat at a long dressing room table in front of a mirror with bright clear glass orb lights just after…

I just had to go. “SOLD OUT, you’ll have to come back another day!” said the ticket taker. I stood at the entrance to the Cartier and Islamic Art Exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art with my jaw a gape and eyes glazing over with apathy. I hadn’t been…

Martin was ready to serve The Darby as its Concierge. — “Live-Work-Play”, flashed the glossy brochure in the leasing office of The Darby, Dallas’ newest luxury residential building. Martin perched like a clenched clam on the edge of the white leather Morris chair, waiting to begin orientation. …

Does Trump suffer from Affluenza? Herd mentality versus Herd immunity? The Midterm Elections 2022!!! Does Trump suffer from Affluenza? Menstruation quips, barbs about women’s looks, and the infamous “grab them by the pussy” moniker. These are all words spoken by a man that has not suffered any consequences. He tried…

Demi Lovato's confessional song reminds me of my own story of being a sexual abuse survivor. — “Petal on the vine, too young to drink wine” — Demi Lovato’s opening line lyric to “29”. I am a survivor of sexual abuse. Of course, at the age of fifteen, I didn’t know that’s what it was called. …