Mike Vargo: Living in the Republic of Unreality
The practice of living in unreality consists of three sub-practices: Denying real reality. Bingeing on pseudo-reality. And adopting a myth.
Ernesto Cardenal: Prayer for Marilyn Monroe
Lord,
welcome this girl known throughout the world as Marilyn Monroe,
although that was not her real name
Charles W. Brice: Twerski
Or did Twerski and the patient
dance, as Hassids do—dance until exhausted by
ecstasy, until the intransigent one, worn out
by serenity, surrendered to sobriety?
Lennard J. Davis: Hillbilly Elegy is an example of ‘poornography,’ in which the rich try to speak on behalf of the poor
JD Vance has climbed to his current position as former President Donald Trump’s running mate, in part, by selling himself as a hillbilly, calling on his Appalachian background to bolster … Continue reading
Heidi Gerard: Addiction Recovery Is Hard. Funding It Shouldn’t Be
I work with moms and kids on their recovery journey. Funding for centers like mine is woefully small compared to the need.
Michael Simms: Blowtorch Bob And Other Particulars Of My Politics
In 1970 I went to my first anti-war demonstration. I was sixteen and my cousin Michael Ashie (People introduced us as “This is my friend Michael and this is his … Continue reading
Sydney Lea: But-cept
From a half-century ago, I remember wishing my oldest son would continue saying ‘upslide down’ at least until first grade.
Audio: Chet Baker | Leaving
Chet Baker was an American jazz trumpeter and vocalist. He is known for major innovations in cool jazz that led him to be nicknamed the “Prince of Cool”.
Marilyn Monroe: Fragments
my beaded rays have the colors I’ve
seen in a painting—ah life they
have cheated you
Amy Small-McKinney: Neighborhood
What do I know?
Anna with red wings that opened for me and hovered over the houses of bullies.
She is dead now too.
Matthew J. Parker: A Junkie By Any Other Name
I was a junkie for 20-odd years, ten of which I spent locked up – one fed beef and four (Arizona) state, all drug-related. To feed my habit, I chose to shoplift. A lot.
Lisa Zimmerman: Missing Billy
You wore sobriety like a t-shirt
with the sleeves hacked off.
Wayne Karlin: The Lotus Eaters
And so he returned to Ithaca:
walked naked from the sea
and saw his shadow
fall on the white marble
Travis Lupick: Gabor Maté And The Myth of Normal
Celebrated physician Gabor Maté discusses how our toxic culture is making us ill.
