If you grew up in New England, you’ve most likely heard about a fictitious exchange between a tourist in need of directions and a reticent Mainer. When asked the best route to the tourist’s destination, the Mainer replied, “You can’t get there from here.” What an absurd response! However, the…
I’ve had epilepsy since I was 9 years old. Because of this, I’ve spent part of my life around hospitals and doctors’ offices. I became aware of the pitfalls that can arise in patient care, and how they can be avoided. I learned early in life the importance of patient…
In his book “Change or Die: The Three Keys to Change at Work and in Life,” Alan Deutschman presents his belief that humans are resistant to change. According to Deutschman, even when we know that our behavior will lead to death, change is so difficult that most of us…
On many weekends when I was a kid, my parents would take the family to the Boston Public Garden. We loved the iconic “Make Way for Ducklings” statues, inspired by the children’s book of the same name. During good weather, the gardens would fill with color, and no child could…
The short story “Rip van Winkle,” written by Washington Irving and published in 1819, ranks among the classics of American literature. It tells the tale of a man living in colonial America who fell asleep a subject of King George III and woke up a citizen in the newly…
Many kids hate the end of summer, which brings a return to school. I was never one of those kids. I’ve been a nerd since kindergarten. I loved — and still do — the start of the new school year. The scent of newly waxed floors and the sight of…
The exceptionally hot summer weather in Texas, where I live, has made life for unhoused people more difficult than usual. It’s troubling to see so many people standing outside in the heat at stoplights or camping under overpasses. Two weeks ago, I broke free from the record high temperatures…
The limitations and frustrations that accompany life with myasthenia gravis (MG) have dominated my thinking the past few weeks. I wish I could say I’ve gleaned inspiration from the experience, but I can’t. It’s one of those times when MG has taken from me and failed to give anything…
As a historian and teacher, I often make connections between current events and the past. Because I also live with myasthenia gravis (MG), recent events called to mind a connection between the past and MG. In June, the Titan submersible imploded, resulting in the deaths of all five…
If I’m not careful, myasthenia gravis (MG) will take control of areas of my life I don’t want it to. I’m not referring to the daily exercise regimens or the employment challenges, but rather my interactions with others. In phone conversations with family and friends, I sometimes catch myself…
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