Selected columns from "My View"
Sept 21, 2008
When I saw a man come walking out of UNC Hospitals with a large watermelon on his shoulder, I thought I had to be dreaming... (Full Story)
July 29, 2008
It's 4 a.m. and I'm suddenly awake. I listen. There it is again. I recognize the sound -- that whisper of a "woof" coming from somewhere. Downstairs...? (Full Story)
Bag Girl Has Vision of the Future
Dec. 29, 2007
"We've given up holiday gift giving in my family -- even the African cows and Afghan goats you buy and never have to feed or clean up after. We're done with all of it...." (Full Story)
Nov 14, 2007
"In and out of the car the other day, running errands, I heard part of a radio interview. Daniel Levin, the former U.S. acting assistant attorney general, was talking about an interrogation technique most of us have heard about by now called waterboarding..." (Full Story)
My Passport, Please
June 10, 2007
“Did you apply from Colorado?” the passport agent asked me, as she searched her list for my name. “I can’t fine your renewal in the system.”
My throat tightened.
“No,” I said. “North Carolina.”
“Hmm...”
Talking to the Qatari "Girls"
Mar. 31, 2007
"Looking out at the stadium-style seats of the lecture hall, I saw a sea of black–young women draped in the traditional Arab abiya, a floor-length black dress with long sleeves. Scarves covered their hair and necks. Several faces were also covered; only eyes shone through slits in the black fabric..."
Living for "the girls"
Feb 21, 2007
"When the invitation came, my first thought was: No way! Teaching writing in the Middle East? Never..."
If I Were Ellen
Dec 12, 2006
"Toiling on a treadmill at the gym the other day, I caught the beginning of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The crowd gave her an extra-rousing welcome when she boogied onto the stage—they were pumped about the upcoming Christmas handouts..."
On-line and Spreading Quickly
Oct 1, 2006
"On my old-tech AM radio the other day, I heard a report
about an elusive demographic that advertisers and other
media are desperately trying to reach: young people, ages
14-24..." (Full Story)
Summer Bummer
July 2, 2006
"With summer here and school out, I hope every kid in town gets to indulge in what I call "drool time," also known as flop-on-the-couch-and-do-nothing time..."
The Big Talk
May 14, 2006
"This was a conversation my sisters and I had dreaded for months, years. Finally it was going to happen..."
(Full Story)
A Phone Call Away
Mar. 25, 2006
"Seven a.m. and the phone is ringing. Never a good sign, I think, as I roll sleepily out of bed to answer it..."
(Full Story)
A Simple Season
Nov. 18, 2005
They arrive almost daily. Today I got four in the mail– addressed to me, my husband, and our two daughters. Sometimes they come for my mother-in-law, who has
been dead for over a year...
You Don't Want to Be a Member
Oct. 12, 2005
I returned recently from leading a weekend writing retreat on Emerald Isle. Sounds delightful, right...?
Saved by the Cell
Sept. 18, 2005
"Cell phones used to irk me. If I let myself think too long and hard about it, they still do..."
May I Have this Dance
Aug.14, 2005
"When our younger child graduated from high school in June, I whooped for joy. We were done, finished with secondary education, through with the Chapel Hill public schools for good..."
