Do we tell her? — A common sight is my mother lying in bed, with a black and white cat sleeping near her shoulder, a pure black cat in her arms, and a black Labrador sprawled across the bottom of the bed. This is my mother’s happy place, surrounded by her pets. Her animals have…

Juliet and her Romeo are alive and well? — Whatsup? It’s your girl, Juliet, here. Yeah, that one — Lady Juliet Capulet. Listen, the next time someone suggests I give up everything I love for a man, I’m going to spit in their face or make my nurse do it. What an idiot I was, but in my defense…

Forgiving my sibling who died of suicide — C.W.: Suicide My brother and I weren’t in a good place when he died by suicide. We’d never been close — there was a large age gap — and after my father died, my brother lost touch with reality. …

I need a balance of both social and alone time — Most social situations are terrifying to me. Drop me into any group where I don’t know everybody, and my anxiety rises. If the other people are friendly and welcoming, I still get tongue-tied and shy. As someone known for being able to think on their feet, it’s a little embarrassing. …

For once, no drills were involved — Remember when you were a child, and people would say, “Don’t eat candy; it will rot your teeth out?” They weren’t only trying to scare you or steal all your candy — too much candy does ruin your teeth, or it seems that way. Two of my crowns have fallen…

Why it’s easy to tell the difference between a want-to-be and a professional writer — Why do you write? For some people, it’s the chance to examine and express their thoughts and feelings, for others, it’s a way to make money and have a career. And that’s only two reasons, there are thousands. Everybody has their distinct reasons for putting words down. While you don’t…

This is the first time in over 30 years — Cooking a holiday meal, especially a Thanksgiving meal can be stressful. You must master family recipes, get the timing of the dishes exactly right, accommodate a large group with varying dietary needs, and often deal with personality clashes. It can be a lot. Now take that stress and double or…

I’ve been grieving all along — My mother’s caregivers were instructed by the hospice doctors to give her morphine — but my mother refused. Although she’s growing weaker and eating very little, she’s not in pain, or so she says. There have been times in the past when death seemed close, and she rallied, but that…

The Purple People Eater Goes to Paris — I went to Disneyland Paris many years ago. Before it was Euro Disney, Parc Disneyland, and Euro Disneyland Paris. I believe it’s back to Disneyland Paris, so we can all rest easy. I don’t know what all the name changes were about. …