The email came as a disappointment.  My friend had come down with Covid. That meant a reading of his short stories, both a public and Zoom event, was canceled. For two decades, I’d encouraged his writing, so I was looking forward to the occasion.  Twelve years my junior, I knew my

As a writer, I read voraciously. Anyone who claims to be a writer but reads little is delusional. Each journey through another person’s mind is a data point that increases our knowledge. Failing to keep up with new ideas invites trouble. For example, a woman on Facebook referred to

Selfies on social media platforms are common.  Hold a cell phone at arm’s length, choose a flattering angle from which to shoot, then share the image with the world.  The picture represents a self-impression: the face we create to meet the facts that we meet.* Our self-image is la

I’d lost touch with the world of fashion and celebrity for a while because I failed to renew a magazine subscription.  Having corrected my error, the publication soon arrived.  What I discovered is that elites are escaping Covid-19 restrictions by flocking to private clubs.  (“

Each morning, my hand mirror gives me two versions of myself. On one side, I get an enlarged view. On the other, I see myself as others do. At my age, neither offers a flattering option. Frankly, there are days when I welcome the Covid-19 edict to wear a protective mask. Not only is c

Where it has been imposed, the Covid-19 lockdown begins to seem endless, particularly because the number of victims continues to rise despite the precaution. In some states, sheer economic exhaustion has emboldened a few businesses to open. But, if the spike continues to rise, these s