Columns

Baby birds and a baby boy, both taking flight

We’ve lived almost 29 years in a rural area in the glorious mountains of North Carolina. Simply looking out the window is a favorite home pastime. There, both comedic wild critters and a reposeful setting beckon, and I’m never disappointed. One of my favorite treats is a full moon…

Embracing the unsung heroes of the SMA community

On a recent episode of my favorite podcast, “Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People,” host Chris Gethard spoke with an occupational therapist (OT). When this caller discussed her profession, she asked Gethard if he had any experience with her field as a patient. Admittedly, he knew little about it…

Becoming a video game writer is all about choices

My introduction to a branching dialogue system in a role-playing game happened in 2019, the first time I played Dragon Age: Inquisition. The character I’d just created was a prisoner suspected of decimating a holy site in the fictional world of Thedas. As such, she was being…

29 and going on 19: A golden retrospective

Months ago, I had an idea for a column. I wrote it down with the intention of revisiting it around my golden birthday on June 29: “Diagnosed at nine months, given nine years to live, and going on 29.” I thought it was cute at the time, a hook…