My uncle has everything. I mean that literally. He has the watch he wanted. He has the car he saved for. His house is exactly how he likes it. His wardrobe is full. His kitchen has every gadget known to mankind. He reads but already owns the books he wants. He travels but plans his … Read more
“She knows.” That was the text I received from my cousin three hours before we were supposed to surprise his wife on her fortieth birthday. Forty people. Catered food. A venue booked two months in advance. A slideshow with photos going back to her childhood. She knew. Not because of the venue. Not because of … Read more
What do you say to someone whose birthday falls in the middle of the worst year of their life? I did not know the answer to that question until my friend Amara lost her father in February and turned thirty-four in October. I remember sitting with my phone open, the cursor blinking in an empty … Read more