Author Archives: Al

Cover Your Nose, Not Your Ass, Mr. Expert

Short comment on article in Washington Post quoting a number of public health folk who say, basically, “Stay vigilant, don’t drop your guard, just because you’re vaccinated. Why?, well, (a) there’s a ‘5/100′ chance you might be infected [but neglecting … Continue reading

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Vaccinated!

“This is one of those days you’ll remember all your life,” I asserted to Cheryl as we followed a circuitous red line. St. Joseph hospital has turned the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination process into a smoothly running machine. The needle stick itself, … Continue reading

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If Opportunity Knocks, You’d Better Be Home

Whatever the opposite of a black cloud is, that’s what has followed me around all my life. While luck may be the intersection of opportunity and preparation, I have had more than my share of the former. It starts, of … Continue reading

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MLK Day 2021

In an essay placing the Capitol riot in the context of White supremacy violence, Bill Mckibben wrote in the New Yorker today that “Mahatma Gandhi [was] arguably the most important political leader of the twentieth century.” I paused to give … Continue reading

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Impeachment?

I’ve been thinking all day about how the leaders of our democracy should respond to the foot soldiers and leaders of Wednesday’s attack on the US Capitol. The one who entered should be identified, easy enough to do for most … Continue reading

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Love Rhymes, Chapter 9 – iv…The End

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

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Love Rhymes, Chapter 9 – iii

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

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Love Rhymes, Chapter 9 – ii

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

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Love Rhymes, Chapter 9 – i

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

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Love Rhymes, Chapter 8 – iii

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

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