When the Heart Falls: Grief, Memory, and the Strange Ways Love Stays With Us

A reflective piece about grief, memory, and the strange comfort of feeling a loved one’s presence long after they’re gone—told through a weekend of reflection, a glowing acrylic heart, and the quiet ways a mother’s love lingers.

Fallout: A Game That Saved My Life

A weekend trip to a Fallout gathering in Goodsprings, Nevada turned into a reminder of why the game has been my refuge, my metaphor, and sometimes my lifeline.

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.