Written by: Jessica Smith I do not feel like an average 25-year old woman. I may sound average since I’m a graduate student pursuing a Master of Social Work at Western Michigan University; I’m working a full time job as a reporter for a small-town newspaper, but...
I love the idea of women sharing stories as a way of creating a village and knowing that others share similar experiences. I adore being a woman and embrace my feminism proudly. Before having kids, I thought my life's purpose was to get more women elected...
With all of the recent talk about bathroom policies and laws, I think the time is ripe for discussing another bathroom issue. I have a 13 year old son with Down syndrome. He is obviously far too old to enter the ladies restrooms with me,...
The First Winter Snow - Richard Brautigan Oh, pretty girl, you have trapped yourself in the wrong body. Twenty extra pounds hang like a lumpy tapestry on your perfect mammal nature. Three months ago you were like a deer staring at the first winter snow. Now Aphrodite...
Kathy Berles Duisterhof Not at all coincidentally I believe, just four days prior to receiving this writing task I popped into Fresh Thyme Farmers Market on Burton Street, located just east of Breton, where the former Michigan Athletic Club used to be. It was a Friday...
When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways — either by losing hope and falling into destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength. -Dalai Lama In 2015, I was diagnosed with Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from several...
Historic Jackson Square, originally known in the 18th century as "Place d'Armes," is a must-experience attraction found right in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans. For over a half-century, there has been an open-air artist colony that sets up at Jackson Square. Local artists paint,...