What is it about those small cathedral towns, which in England are by definition cities, no matter how tiny? Recalling those idealized places of perpetually mild weather and well-mannered people brings peace of mind. The small English town, typically
Memoir
Rasp
A rasp, also known as creaky voice, also known as vocal fry, has become widespread. It didn’t use to be, which suggests that in most cases it isn’t caused by vocal cord affliction. Instead, it’s become fashionable. Unfortunately, it’s also been made
Denial: The Good Neurosis?
The experiences of disabled people can help in understanding much about human nature. Take denial. My friend Adam and I launched into an email discussion of denial after I encountered a piece by a blogger named Jason Romero, who has experienced
On Comedy and Disability
At its best, comedy is a safe mirror for our failings and a fresh perspective on other people. When driven by insight, it is so valuable that we should try not to take offense each time we find ourselves its butt. I recently watched “One Leg Too
Compliments
It can be hard to take a compliment gracefully. Sometimes we feel undeserving. Other times we wonder if we are being manipulated. There are times we feel a compliment is discordant with our actual achievement, such as when veterans of recent wars
An Oral History Experience
Last week I recorded a version of my life story for a New York Public Library oral history project, an experience that caused me to think about how we communicate who we are. (The recordings are being posted here, and I assume mine will be sometime