Bitterroot: A Salish Memoir of Transracial Adoption – book Review

“Oh, damn it!” I grunt, to no one in particular, as my immaculately crafted egg-over-medium, sandwiched in between two crispy buttered halves of English muffins, squirts onto page 187 of Susan Devan Harness’ memoir Bitterroot: A Salish Memoir of Transracial Adoption. With the dripping egg sandwich in one hand and the memoir in the other […]

Celebration of Loss

I reject my birthday as a day of celebration. It has always been a confusing day for me. Even as a child my birthday has always felt performative; I participated entirely out of obligation and social conformity. I feel detached from the date because it feels arbitrary and meaningless, not like “my special day.” It […]

The Primal Wound – Book Review

The act of ordering this book, let alone reading it, has been years in the making. In some ways The Primal Wound (1991) has stood as an enormous ancient wall, towering above me, looking down upon me with knowing eyes daring me to begin the ascent. It took me 8 years to do it and […]

Validate Rather Than Dictate

My back hurts and I’m tired of staring at my screen, tired of having all of my life feel like it is now connected to a screen. Work, my classes, socializing, connecting with family, writing, fun, all of it is now tied to these damn liquid crystals blinding me day and night. My back hurts […]

The Night Before Leaving

There is only one video I am aware of, of my father. I am sure there are others, but only one I’ve seen since he died over 14 years ago. The video is of my sister, when she is in middle school or early high school, interviewing my father about adopting me. The night before […]

We Have Arrived

Being on a 15 hour flight is a little like hell. It is hard to believe it will end. Time ceases to cycle in the familiar ways. The sun still rises but it means less. Meals are brought out in what feels like arbitrary intervals and arbitrary purposes since I haven’t done anything to work […]

Tag: Adoption