Patricia A. Nugent: High Hopes
All his symptoms were aligned with the inevitability of death. But we still took Dryphuss to the veterinarian’s office to assess whether we might continue to manage his pain. The … Continue reading
Patricia A. Nugent: Shifting Our Energy
“Hey, want to get arrested with me next weekend?” she casually asks over a latte. “No,” I answer without hesitation, surprising even myself with the alacrity of my decision. My … Continue reading
Patricia A. Nugent: Forgive Me, Mr. President
Maybe it’s that pesky Sixth Commandment: Thou shalt not kill. Or verse 5:53 of the Koran: Who so kills a soul, unless it be for murder or for wreaking corruption … Continue reading
Patricia A. Nugent: When Hillary Clinton announced that she’s again running for president, I cried.
I had also cried when I voted for her in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. I didn’t realize they were that close to the surface, but when I actually saw … Continue reading
Patricia A. Nugent: The Hand of the Poet
“I have a problem. I know you can’t help me, but I want to tell you anyway.” She approaches me after the first class of a four-week writing course … Continue reading
Patricia A. Nugent: Lucretia Mott — “The Lioness of the Convention”
“It’s the will of God,” the men argued, waving Bibles in her face. But she knew better; she was a minister, after all. Yet she was not allowed to speak. … Continue reading
Patricia A. Nugent: Why Some Jews “Do” Christmas and Some Christians Don’t Follow Their Messiah
My Jewish friends send Christmas cards. They decorate Christmas trees and exchange gifts. They bake Christmas cookies. They even attend midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. When asked why, their … Continue reading
Patricia A. Nugent: The Good, the Bad and…the Scared
There are bad cops. Trigger-happy. Vengeful. Crooked. Prejudiced. There are also bad teachers and bad priests. When the public trust is broken by “bad apples” in any helping profession, … Continue reading
Patricia A. Nugent: Death with Dignity — Continuing the Conversation
After swallowing the doctor-prescribed lethal pills, she died in her bed, surrounded by family members. We knew she was going to do it; she had been quite open about it. … Continue reading
