I read the first sentence: “An island is 2 miles due north of its closest point along a straight shoreline.” Oh God! What the hell does that mean? “Closest point along…blah blah blah” There was no way I could figure this out. About to panic, I took adeep breath. What if I drew a picture? … Read more
This past summer was filled with lasts. It was my last stint as director of our REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates). I ran my last TA (Teaching Assistant) training workshop. The summer was my last summer as a college professor. And today was my last first day of an academic year.
I had trouble putting my finger on it—something wasn’t right. Something had changed. Certainly not the website, but me—I had changed. I scrutinized my home page—it was too quiet. Though neurological fatigue continued to plague me, it wasn’t as debilitating as in the earlier days of my recovery. In addition, I was less prone to … Read more
It was so clean, uncluttered, easy to read, to navigate, and it was quiet. It was just right. It was me. I loved it… at first. Actually, I loved it for the first… how long? The first year? When my second book, Threads Around the World: From Arabian Weaving to Batik in Zimbabwe, was about … Read more
My friend Susan pointed her out. “There she is. The woman I told you about. The one with the brain injury.” Susan was pointing at an unremarkable looking woman. A bit on the skinny side, straight brown hair, sitting alone at a table, all her attention on writing in a small notebook. In my previous … Read more
Sometimes I forget my limitations. Often I ignore them, on purpose. In particular, when it comes to travel, though I do make some concessions to the bloody brain—I am willing to take my chances. I knew the trip was was going to be a challenge. I took it anyway. The flight out of Pittsburgh was … Read more
I feel lost. I know what I want to write about. I’ve written bits and pieces. But it won’t gel. I’ve tried stepping back to take a break, to gain a better perspective. What is this story about? Normally, all it takes is a shower. I stand under the shower head, water streaming down my … Read more
A student came to my office, looked around my office. As he crossed the threshold, his step faltered. I turned to see what had caused his reaction—he was staring at my calendar, a Jewish calendar with a big Star of David emblazoned on it. Curious, I scrutinized him, searching for a clue that would explain … Read more
Shoes off. Coat and hoodie in the bin. Wait. My belt—I whip it off, roll it up, and tuck it under the coat. I check my pockets. Oh yes, liquids—I pull the ziploc bag out of my backpack. I think I’ve got it all. Oops, the iPad. I sigh as I reach over to get … Read more
Is this it? Have I finally found that elusive magic pain killer? Living a full life comes at a price. Among many other symptoms, I suffer from extreme fatigue and debilitating headaches. Spending my life hiding a darkened room is not an option. I will not surrender to my damaged brain. I recently returned from … Read more