People

Me: How can I help you? Her: Can I speak with Casey?  She emailed me. Me: Casey is actually a guy. Her: Oh, really?  Can I speak to her? Me: The Casey that you got an email from is a guy. Her: Okay.  What do I do? Me: Is there something I can help you…

All of last year, I lived in the apartment above the most silent man of all time.  The only time I ever saw him was when he would stand outside his front door smoking cigarettes with his headphones in, avoiding my eye contact as I would pass him on my way to the third floor. …

“Can I put the arm rest up?” “Sure.” [spilling over into my seat]  “I’m still a big girl.  But I’ve lost over 200 lbs.” “Wow – that’s incredible!  Congratulations – what an accomplishment.” “No more seat-belt expander for me.” [high-five with a 70-year old woman, initiated by yours truly] “I’m Pat, by the way, and…

On Saturday, I flew back to Colorado.  I’ll be with my family through Christmas, and then fly back to Nashville for another week – because apparently, I enjoy being a geographical ping-pong ball. I flew Southwest (like I always do), fell asleep the minute I boarded (like I always do), and slept for the first…

Yesterday, I swung by a girly store to look for some negligee for a friend who is getting married.  As I browsed the skivvies, a woman came up to me and pointed to a particular bra. “This one looks SO GOOD on,” she declared. “Excellent!” I replied.  And… awkward? I thought.  Because who likes to…

I was awake from 2-5am for no real reason at all.  I just woke up out of a dead sleep, and my eyes stayed open for three hours. I tried all sorts of things – reading, watching a movie, thinking about boring things, tossing and turning, changing the temperature, changing my blanket situation, moving out…

After racing my dad to the top of Mt. Roberts in Juneau on Sunday, I spent some time walking around the town.  Which, of course, led to an interesting encounter – because do I ever elude the interesting encounters? I met a greasy man on a street corner who took one look at me, and…

It’s amazing how quickly I, an alleged full-grown woman, can revert back to feeling like I did with other girls in elementary school: insecure, timid, and small.  Recently, a moment leapt out of nowhere and grabbed me by the throat, reducing me to those irrepressible tears that leave me shaky and sick to my stomach…

Sometimes, I need help.  But I don’t like to admit it.  And if there is anything that I hate, it is feeling indebted to those around me – or, worst of all, a burden.  I value independence and cleverness and resourcefulness.  I like being in everyone’s good graces, and will do anything to make sure…

Every morning at work, I park the old Honda in a garage, and then walk down 3 flights of stairs, across a little driveway, between some dumpsters, and then let myself in the back door by the loading dock using my key card. It’s not glamorous – especially when someone consistently leaves his or her…