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Christine Schoenwald
Christine Schoenwald

15.7K Followers

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Published in

The Narrative Arc

·Pinned

Mom’s Body Is Present but Her Spirit Is Gone

Dementia fogs are happening more frequently — My mother is staring at me, but she doesn’t see me. The look on her face isn’t entirely confused, there’s also resignation and sorrow there. As her comprehension slips away, she understands enough to know she can’t stop the progression of what’s happening to her. …

The Narrative Arc

4 min read

Mom’s Body Is Present but Her Spirit Is Gone
Mom’s Body Is Present but Her Spirit Is Gone
The Narrative Arc

4 min read


Published in

The Narrative Arc

·Pinned

I Thought I Had a Gambling Addiction Until I Met Ted

I didn’t know when to cash out — “Red Sevens! Red Sevens!! Come on, Red Sevens,” I shouted while holding my hand against the screen of the Blazin Sevens slot machine. “Ooh, too bad,” I said as the only thing on the center line were one seven and a few cherries. No payout on that. I took another…

The Narrative Arc

6 min read

I Thought I Had a Gambling Addiction Until I Met Ted
I Thought I Had a Gambling Addiction Until I Met Ted
The Narrative Arc

6 min read


Published in

Crow’s Feet

·Pinned

My Mother Has Been Death-Cleaning for Decades

She can’t stand stuff — There’s plenty of space for the menacing figures of my mother’s hallucinations. Her living room is filled with shadows and little else. Don’t assume she recently went on a death-cleaning spree and got rid of everything to make it easier for those she leaves behind. No, she’s been death-cleaning for…

Swedish Death Cleaning

4 min read

My Mother Has Been Death-Cleaning for Decades
My Mother Has Been Death-Cleaning for Decades
Swedish Death Cleaning

4 min read


Published in

The Narrative Arc

·Pinned

The Movers Weren’t Expecting To Find a Sex Toy Under the Bed and Neither Was I

On the top ten list of embarrassing moments — The movers were almost finished putting all my belongings in their truck — all that was left were the box springs and bed frame. I was in the room with them packing up various bits and pieces when the movers flipped up the box springs to reveal a rather large…

The Narrative Arc

6 min read

The Movers Weren’t Expecting To Find a Sex Toy Under the Bed and Neither Was I
The Movers Weren’t Expecting To Find a Sex Toy Under the Bed and Neither Was I
The Narrative Arc

6 min read


Published in

Crow’s Feet

·10 hours ago

Don’t Call Them Old, Friends

We’re witnesses of our lives — Recently, I learned that one of the things you can do to overcome self-directed ageism is to have friends of all different ages. Multi-generational friendships give you perspective and help keep you rooted in the present. While this makes sense to me, I have to admit, there’s something about old…

Women

4 min read

Don’t Call Them Old, Friends
Don’t Call Them Old, Friends
Women

4 min read


Published in

The Narrative Arc

·Sep 7

I Felt Like the Last Virgin on Earth and Made a Terrible Decision

He seemed safe, but I was wrong — C.W. Abuse/grooming I’m wearing an old silk robe of my mother’s that I grabbed from the charity bag, and I’ve arranged it provocatively on my body. I pose in front of the mirror nailed to my closet door and refer back to the Oui magazine I’m using as a guide. …

The Narrative Arc

7 min read

I Felt Like the Last Virgin on Earth and Made a Terrible Decision
I Felt Like the Last Virgin on Earth and Made a Terrible Decision
The Narrative Arc

7 min read


Published in

The Narrative Arc

·Aug 31

I Hope I Die Before I Get Extremely Old

A super-long life has lost its appeal — She’s withdrawing from her life — that’s how the social worker worded it. Her watered-down whiskey, her pets, and her luscious lemon desserts no longer spark any interest. “We’ve been down this road before, but with her rapid decline and her withdrawal from life, your mother is likely dying,” the…

The Narrative Arc

4 min read

I Hope I Die Before I Get Extremely Old
I Hope I Die Before I Get Extremely Old
The Narrative Arc

4 min read


Published in

The Wind Phone

·Aug 28

After My Cat Died, I Spoke to an Animal Communicator

I needed help with my grief — As a lifelong cat lover, I’ve had my share of cat deaths. Some have been peaceful, and others involved much suffering and pain. All made me sad, but none of them broke me the way my cat Yoshi’s death did. Yoshi was almost 19 years old when he died, and…

Grief And Loss

5 min read

After My Cat Died, I Spoke to an Animal Communicator
After My Cat Died, I Spoke to an Animal Communicator
Grief And Loss

5 min read


Published in

The Narrative Arc

·Aug 26

He Was a Cute, Quirky Guy, but I Couldn’t Trust It Was Me He Wanted

My friends were much hotter than me — In junior high, I liked to go skating. I wasn’t the best skater; I couldn’t shoot the duck or anything but I was a surprisingly good skateboarder and had excellent balance. I could get around the rink without making a huge fool of myself — which was one of my…

The Narrative Arc

6 min read

He Was a Cute, Quirky Guy, but I Couldn’t Trust It Was Me He Wanted
He Was a Cute, Quirky Guy, but I Couldn’t Trust It Was Me He Wanted
The Narrative Arc

6 min read


Published in

The Narrative Arc

·Aug 23

She Promised We’d Be Friends Forever and Then She Ghosted Me For Life

Friends can break your heart — Pilar and I have just finished our 8-mile jog around the neighborhood. Without showering, armed with carob and water, we plop ourselves down on oversized pillows in front of the T.V. to watch Charlie’s Angels. Carob, because we think it’s healthier than regular chocolate, and Charlie’s Angels because we think…

The Narrative Arc

5 min read

She Promised We’d Be Friends Forever and Then She Ghosted Me For Life
She Promised We’d Be Friends Forever and Then She Ghosted Me For Life
The Narrative Arc

5 min read

Christine Schoenwald

Christine Schoenwald

15.7K Followers

Writer for The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Next Avenue, Business Insider, and Your Tango Christineschoenwaldwriter.com

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