June 21, 2021. Festering and wallowing. We don’t know words the way we think we know words. A news story on my morning feed trumpeted the “hefty fine” a moronic, fireworks-spewing joyrider faced: one thousand dollars. The fine is many things – ridiculous, a joke, insufficient – but hefty it’s not. I’m left with the image of Dr. Evil and low financial demands in my … Continue reading Festering and wallowing.

When I was studying law, I came across a term I’d never heard of, but loved. Condonation, the act of overlooking an offense. It’s a pardon, often implied, given by carrying on with business as usual. You treat the sinner like no sin happened. It happens a lot in family law. Condonation in the eyes of the law means you can’t come back later and … Continue reading Condonation.

Big trigger warning: includes references to sexual assault and suicide. I’m not a fan of triggered. The word, not the experience, though I dislike the latter as well. People use “triggered” the way they use “OCD.” It’s colloquial, not diagnostic, and they don’t mean it clinically. Usually, it means they’re uncomfortable. To be uncomfortable isn’t fun. To be reminded of things we’d prefer to forget … Continue reading The unexpected trigger.