Gina’s Diary: My Parents Keep Fighting

I’ll tell you more about Gina soon. For now, I’d like to focus on her problem. I only recall a handful of times when I was awakened in the night by my parents’ arguments, but that was enough. I remember the irritation, the stress (sometimes it lasted for days afterward), the curiosity… I remember being wide awake after the fight was over and feeling like I’d never get back to sleep. There were times when I wanted to get up and make a trip to the bathroom or to the kitchen for a drink, yet I was afraid to move from my bed because I didn’t want my mom and dad to know I hadn’t slept through their turmoil.

Continue reading

Divorce on TV

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across the sitcom, Happily Divorced, online. I vaguely remember hearing about the show before it aired. Intrigued by the title, I watched a couple episodes. The gist of the show is simple: husband confesses after many years of marriage that he’s gay, and he can’t afford to move out due to the economy. So they continue to live together while moving on after their divorce. I wasn’t impressed, and it wasn’t just Fran Drescher’s voice that turned me off.

Continue reading

Compassionate Acronyms

Quick, think of the person you dislike the most in the world. Do you have a name in mind? Has this person hurt you? Hurt your family? Said awful things to/about you? Did this person lie to you? Stab you in the back? Steal from you? All of the above?

How do you feel when you think about this person? What thoughts or emotions get stuck on “repeat” when you hear that name? Are you livid? Seething? Broken? Are you wondering, How could you? Or, Why would you? Do you feel powerful? Powerless? Do you feel hateful?

Continue reading

Conflict Doesn’t (Have To) Mean “Carnage”

I once was told that children should be read lots of fairy tales. The idea is not to teach children that the Good Guys always win, but rather to teach them that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

After much consideration, I’ve decided I have a problem with this. The older I get, the less I believe in The Good Guys vs. The Bad Guys. It’s not always that simple. And, did you ever realize that *your side* is always the *good* side? I wonder if most of us understand that our opponents are just as certain that they’re the ones who are *right* (Religion is the easiest example. Divorce is another good one).

Continue reading