Published inAbout Me Stories·PinnedMember-onlyAbout Me — Denise Lance"Well-Behaved women rarely make ‘herstory’"- Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (adapted) Most people type like this:About Me7 min readAbout Me7 min read
Published inThe Memoirist·Dec 1Member-onlySitting In Bars with a Shot SpoonLearning where I don’t belong — In 2008, I joined Facebook. After being separated from my friends from high school and college for 20, I was excited to reconnect with people and see what they were doing now. Ok, I admit it. I wanted to see if the popular girls were ugly total failures and whether…Personal Experience4 min readPersonal Experience4 min read
Oct 2Member-onlySimply The Best ConcertSeeing Tina Turner with my sister — Today is the 15th anniversary of the most incredible night of my life. On October 1, 2008, I cheered and danced with Tina Turner on the opening night of her final tour. In April, my sister called me excitedly, saying, “Neesy, Tina is doing one last tour, and it’s starting…Music4 min readMusic4 min read
Published inThe Memoirist·Sep 26Member-onlyThe First Grade Folding Chair FiascoGood thing I didn’t know other F-words back then! — Having a disability means learning to make your way in a world that isn’t accessible. From ages two to seven, I attended a specialized preschool for “crippled” children in a hospital. I spent most of the day in physical, speech, and occupational therapies to try to “fix” me, to make…Memoir6 min readMemoir6 min read
Published inBouncin’ and Behavin’ Blogs·Sep 11Member-onlyCut the Cartoons, Big Pharma!And the egregious profits, too — You know what makes me want to throw a flower pot at the TV, wash my eyes with disinfectant, and shove knitting needles in my ears? Incessant drug commercials! No break is without at least one. Often, there are two or three, back to back. The ones that make me…Commercials4 min readCommercials4 min read
Published inThe Memoirist·Aug 29Member-onlyLife Isn’t “Worlds of Fun” AnymoreMissing my Dad in a world of fear — When I heard that Kansas City’s Worlds of Fun was bringing back the Zambezi Zinger rollercoaster for its 50th anniversary, my stomach lurched up to my heart as if barreling down one of its hills. I didn’t want to ride the attraction again. …The Fair3 min readThe Fair3 min read
Published inReviewsday Tuesday·Jul 25Member-onlyA Place for Us: A MemoirFinding chosen family, surviving terror, and defining purpose — A Place for Us: A Memoir by Brandon J. Wolf ISBN-10: 1542036461 “All my life, I had been made to believe that I was something to be hidden away or overcome.” Born to a loving white mother and black father who left before he was born, Brandon J. Wolf…Book Review3 min readBook Review3 min read
Published inThe Memoirist·Jul 8Member-onlyShooting Fireworks From Between My KneesAnd living to tell about it — My dad was Mr. Safety, always ensuring we knew what we were doing before doing anything slightly dangerous. …Memoir4 min readMemoir4 min read
Published inThe Memoirist·Jun 19Member-onlyDear Colleague, I Heard You In The BathroomME TOO… — I heard the door open and footsteps coming toward the only other stall in the bathroom as I sat on the toilet at work one day. The person opened the stall door, stepped in, and shut it but didn’t turn around like she would use the bathroom. …The Memoirist4 min readThe Memoirist4 min read
May 29Member-onlyI Miss Mom’s Made-Up WordsI HAVEN’T HEARD THEM IN 18 YEARS — One thing I miss most about my Mom is her mispronunciation of words. As an academic English major and aspiring writer, I prided myself on proper grammar and getting words right. However, my mother rarely had a conversation where she didn’t fumble or make up a new word for something. …Memoir3 min readMemoir3 min read
