Tag Archives: Youth

December 27, 2012

Reflections

“The girl in the mirror wasn’t who I wanted to be and her life wasn’t the one I wanted to have.” – Francesca Lia Block, Pink Smog

I turned 11 the summer between elementary school and middle school, in the fashion-challenged era of the mid-1980s. Given my new “grown-up” middle-schooler status, I had the brilliant idea to cut off all of my hair to reflect my obvious maturity (middle school, people! I had ARRIVED!).  So I found a picture in a magazine (most likely Teen Magazine or Sassy) of some unnaturally gorgeous teenage girl with short hair, and took it to the salon for them to work their magic on my naturally-wavy-yet-permed coif.

Needless to say, it was tragic. Hideous. Continue reading →

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February 21, 2012

Musical Memories: The Soundtrack of My Youth

I have been purging quite a bit lately. No, I am not bulimic, but rather I am trying to get rid of the “stuff” that seems to fill every nook and cranny of my apartment. Clutter, things I don’t need, items that simply take up space and contribute to my never-ending anxiety.

After more than six months, I figured it was time to box up what remains of my husband’s books, CDs and DVDs (and continue to wait for him to come and pick all of his stuff up, HINT HINT). In going through this exercise, I decided that it was finally time for me to part with the hundreds of CDs I have collected since high school, if not earlier (remind me when CDs became the norm over tapes and vinyl? oooooof I am old.). Copied into iTunes long ago, I was ready to dispose of the little plastic cases and silver discs whose only purpose these days is to collect dust that my Merry Maids never manage to eliminate. Continue reading →

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March 3, 2011

Private Pain, Public Life

Watching the train wreck that is Charlie Sheen (or Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, or any troubled celebrity du jour) reminds me to be grateful that I am not a celebrity. Sure, the job pays well, but the price celebrities pay is just as high. My life has certainly been ones of ups and downs, tragedies and triumphs, mistakes and even bigger mistakes — but these were all lived out in my little fishbowl of friends and family, as opposed to the public eye. Continue reading →

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October 20, 2010

Support Suicide Prevention

It is inspiring to see so many people – celebrities, politicians, everyday folks – speak up today on “Spirit Day” in support of gay teens, anti-bullying and suicide prevention. It breaks my heart to see so many young people taking own their lives because they see no other way out.

I lost my brother to suicide 353 days ago – I cannot believe that it has been nearly a year (an anniversary that I am dreading and will write more about later). While he was not a gay teen but rather a straight 32-year-old Ph.D. candidate with all the promise in the world, I hope that the emerging suicide prevention dialogue encourages people to speak up about depression, mental health issues and suicidal thoughts to remove the stigma and let people who are suffering – from children to the elderly, the lightest skin to the darkest, of any sexual orientation – reach out for help and talk about their challenges. Continue reading →

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August 13, 2010

Friday Night: What a Difference 10 Years Makes

So given the fact that I am suffering from the plague, I sadly had to turn down an invitation to see the Buffalo Bills play the Washington Redskins tonight. Heartbreaking. Not only because I am SO ready for some football, but also because it is so rare that I actually do anything anymore on Friday nights. Oh my, how horrified my 25-year-old self would be at my 35-year-old self. Continue reading →

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