Author Archives: Al

xii “Sarah?” Steph’s voice sounded hollow on the phone. I’d come home at three, and lain on the couch for several hours, exhausted by a simple afternoon at the doctor’s. “Can I come over? We need to talk.” “Why? What … Continue reading →

viii Petyr’s final seminar, “Illness in the analyst and professional wills” almost put me to sleep. Barely into my 30’s, I didn’t see foresee any need to worry about this in my work. At dinner, I mentioned the upcoming wrap-up … Continue reading →

v My repeated inquiries at the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute finally bore fruit. I met first with Dr. Jacobson, the executive director of the Institute, soon after my return from San Antonio. “The Board has come around to your view of … Continue reading →

CHAPTER NINE Life Itself Is Reason Enough To Be Living March, 1979 The morning after dinner with Julia, I called the Ob clinic at Harvard Community Health Plan, intending to ask for a pregnancy test and initial appointment. “When was … Continue reading →

x Sept. 28, 1978 Janie – I really did get the letter you wrote last May, but I’ve been on an extended vacation since Christmas, which is about to end this weekend…After residency, I worked in LA for Kaiser from … Continue reading →

v This time, I felt centered enough to write back. I’d stopped making copies of my letters to Mike, so all I remember is congratulating him on finding someone with whom to share this part of his life. Then I … Continue reading →

CHAPTER EIGHT The Center of The Universe May, 1974 Over the next three months, I had no time to dream about the future, or worry over the past. I spent many days at the CDU endlessly viewing and re-viewing tapes … Continue reading →