The current form of maternal martyr, I discern, is not the one I remember from childhood but is, nonetheless, an interesting inversion of this one. The form of maternal martyrdom I remember was undertaken by those mothers who had renounced everything to be at home with children. They were legion and they were known to … More Maternal martyrs of the 21st century
What I notice is that you have to put more, not less time into everything. I do not mean larger blocs of time, of course, although that is fine too. What I mean is, more total time into everything that matters. That means less into what doesn’t, of course, but it does not mean starving … More Time Time Time
A large part of the problem, as a local friend points out, is the abusive environment. One could, theoretically, move about as freely as one does elsewhere and enjoy local delights, but one learns that it is not so simple — unpleasantness comes when you least expect it, but often, and “just avoid it” or … More Things I do automatically when abroad, and did here before Reeducation, but have a hard time doing here now.
The TSA employees do not understand that my visceral level reasons for not going through that airport scanner that takes and keeps the equivalent of your naked photograph is not shyness about the body, but the fact that to have that photograph taken, you must stand in the prisoner of war position, hands on your … More That airport scanner
Today I was describing to my child, who lives in Austin, Texas, my culture shock upon returning to Maringouin. Professor Zero: It is not that Mexico is not violent, of course… Post-Louisianian One: …but Mexico does not have that Southern hostility. And that is exactly it. I flashed on a conversation with my very first … More On “Southern Hostility”
They telephoned me. I do not like to receive telephone solicitation at home. I said I would put my membership renewal in the mail. They said I should do it by phone, now, as a special, high level donor. I said no. They said I really ought to renew by phone, at least, to save … More The Sierra Club
It took him a long time to see it but they actually looked down on towns without drive-in liquor shops. “I cannot go to a bar when I have my kids with me in the car, but that is when I most need a drink,” she explained. “It is just how we die — in … More I could almost write a short story noir.
This is a response to Undine’s post — which is quite thought provoking and thus, good — and yes, I do respond to that scene from Casablanca but in the end, I do not trust any form of patriotism or nationalism because I am American and we know patriotism means bombs bursting in air. This … More On patriotism
From a conversation I heard, there was this: referring to people killed in alcohol related car accidents, “that is just how we die here,” someone said. This was not a good Fourth of July because of the hot, rainy weather, because my car will not start, and because the one invitation I had was cancelled … More “America”
The food in the United States is bad. You have to, or would have to search far and spend a great deal in order to match the freshness and purity of the groceries you can get at your local feria in Mexico. And the restaurant food here is bad, too; it is fatty and overcooked … More Sticker Shock
