I’d been meaning to have some kind of formal ‘taking off the bracelet’ ceremony. A rite that would be consistent with the commitment of having worn it, without interruption, for 33 years. That’s 72% of my life. The whole of my adulthood. Practically as long as I can remember. The deal with the bracelet was…

I recently made my very first submission for publication in a magazine. My piece was not published. While I was hopeful, I’m not that disappointed. It was my first try and the article they did publish was well-written and fit the magazine’s format and vibe better than mine. I am posting the essay below and…