UFOs

There were eight of us I think; teenage kids running through the woods shortly before midnight.  I say "the woods," but in actuality it was merely a quarter-mile stretch of trees along either side of a  creek somewhere in suburbia.  A sort of run off from a nearby forest preserve running between a housing division…Read more UFOs

Shine

One of the most interesting people I have ever met was a man who, in his youth, was a member of a prominent Latino gang in Chicago; to escape this lifestyle, he later joined the police force.  Of course, by the time I met him, he was no longer a gang banger or a police…Read more Shine

…”Normal” Interactions?

One of the many things that I struggle with on a daily basis is knowing how to appropriately interact with other people.  At an early age it became abundantly clear to me from others reactions that I was at the least strange, and at most deranged, so I quickly learned to keep my thoughts to…Read more …”Normal” Interactions?

Suicide and Ecstasy

It was Halloween, so naturally I had gotten really high, and eaten a quarter ounce of mushrooms.  So, I was still tripping pretty hard when a mutual friend called the Simons to let us all know what had happened.  From my perspective it went something like this: the phone rang and Bob answered, he said,…Read more Suicide and Ecstasy

The Serendipitous Pancake Epiphany

Once upon a time, after eight years of doing any and all drugs that came my way, I decided that I wanted to be sober.  My friends (all of whom were users at the time) didn't buy it and neither did my family.  Which is not surprising because after all, I didn't know if it was…Read more The Serendipitous Pancake Epiphany

…Betrayal?!

Is there anything worse?!  I mean, it always sucks when someone fucks you over, but human beings, being what they are, tend to be self-centered and I think most intelligent people would agree that on some level we all expect those around us to do what suits them despite how it may effect others, but…Read more …Betrayal?!

The “Best” of Both Worlds

Schizoaffective disorder  is characterized by symptoms of both psychosis resembling schizophrenia, and a mood disorder (depression or bipolar).  It is rare and often misdiagnosed, especially because each individual's set of symptoms is different and ranges in severity.  It is cyclical in nature, and sometimes long periods of "improvement" can be experienced between symptomatic episodes.  All…Read more The “Best” of Both Worlds

Thicker than Water

A moment ago, my sister says to me, "He was a ginger, and he totally had a black eye, so I was like 'what the fuck?' but we talked for a long time, and it turned out he was a fighter (which explains the black eye) and he also knew a lot about vitamins." ...and…Read more Thicker than Water

…and Another Thing

Here is something else that seems difficult for the unafflicted to understand, Depression is NOT a choice, and (for many of us) it is NOT temporary. With a recurring depressive disorder of any kind, depression can come on at any time, with or without cause, and it can stay for long periods of time.  Even…Read more …and Another Thing

…Questions?!

When you suffer from depression, people who care for you inevitably ask you all kinds of questions about how you're feeling; "so... How's it going?" "How are feeling?" "How are you... really?" "Are you okay?" This obviously comes from a place of caring and they ask because they DO care, and so they worry.  THIS…Read more …Questions?!