Public Ponder

Bribery: I Bribed an Airport Official for All the Wrong Reasons

Back in 1998 when my sons were 4 and 2 years old, I bribed an airport official so I could escape. No, I wasn't escaping political persecution, war, death threats from the mafia, poverty, or marital...Read More →

Tinnitus: Dealing with a Wicked Form of Torture

"Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no actual external noise is present." American Tinnitus Association Doesn't sound all that bad, now does it? This, however, is what tinnitus actually felt like:...Read More →

You’d Better Be Kind When Giving Tech Support to Your Mom

Have you ever encouraged someone to embrace technology and then regretted it? Me, I’m starting to lament pushing my mom to up her game. Look, she’s 79, and as bright and energetic as anyone half her...Read More →

Autism and Valentine’s Day: An Exhausting Love Ritual

It’s no exaggeration to say my 27-year-old autistic son lives for holidays and birthdays. He’s already talking about turning 28 and he turned 27 less than a month ago.When Diego began nagging me to help...Read More →

Running Motivation: Why Running Is Better Than Sex

Running is orders of magnitude better than many things I find awesome. I just chose sex as the comparison because sex is the quintessential point of reference when judging the awesomeness of human...Read More →

Right and Wrong: Seven Quotes to Help You Do the Right Thing

Before you ask, “Who does this lady think she is to be preaching about right and wrong?” I’d like you to know I wrote these quotes down because they apply to ME. I've been guilty of all the wicked moral...Read More →

Parenting and Death: What I Fear Most about Being a Parent

Parenting brings such joy sometimes the euphoria makes you want to explode into a million sparkles. Other times, though, the pain’s so great you’d like the whole world to collapse into a dark hole. You...Read More →

Why 27 Could Be Your Most Epic Birthday

Have you noticed I’ve been absent lately? Not replying to emails, texts, WhatsApps and phone calls? Always rushed? Well, it’s because my son’s 27th birthday consumed me for a while there. I attribute ...Read More →

Privilege Vs Merit: Confessions of A Spoiled Brat

If like me, you grew up with substantial privilege, you don’t go around bragging about it, am I right? That would be in bad taste. It also wouldn't reflect well on you that there was almost NO statistical...Read More →

What My Autistic Son’s Fear of Cycling Taught Me about Guilt and Blame

Two summers ago, my husband and I caused Diego, my 26-year-old autistic son, to fear biking. It didn't take much, which shows that you can never know who or what might turn something you actually like...Read More →