A quiet Thanksgiving weekend leads to reflections on loneliness, the feeling of being “optional,” and why the wasteland of Fallout sometimes feels more comforting than real life. Surgery recovery, complicated emotions, and a glitchy new update all blend into one simple truth: even in chaos, we find who stands by us.
Category: Life with disability
Empathy, Pain, and a Midnight Scorched Attack
A 3:30 a.m. flare-up turns into an unexpected lesson in empathy, pain management, and the strange parallels between real-life recovery and surviving the Wasteland. Sometimes even nurses need a refresher in giving a damn.
Toddlers, Tantrums, and the Temptation of the Wasteland
Even in the Fallout universe, the monsters are easier to deal with than the ones outside your front door. A veteran’s reflection on civility, escapism, and the urge to leave the nursery behind.
Prepping for the Knife
Facing an upcoming shoulder replacement, I reflect on my Army days, the scars—both physical and emotional—and the strange peace that comes with surviving. I may be a little battered, but I’m still here, still writing, and still grateful for the second (or third) chances.