Grieving is messy. Such is the human condition, isn’t it?
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Attacked in New York City in Broad Daylight: What Men Can Do to Create a Safer World for Women
It was my first time in the Big Apple. I arrived late in Manhattan after a long drive across the country. My goal was not to explore the city – I wanted only an overnight visit with a friend, to get some sleep, and then head to Philadelphia to spend a few days with another…
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Spanish Guitar: A Story of an Immigrant Growing up with Melody and Dissonance
The guitar is a small orchestra. It is polyphonic. Every string is a different color, a different voice. – Andres Segovia, Spanish classical guitarist In the corner leaning against the wall, you would have found my mahogany Spanish guitar and its case on the floor, dusty and worn, and you would have thought nothing of…
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Where Seagulls Always Fly: A Letter to My Late Brother
Dear Little Brother, Today is the day you would have turned 50. There is nothing I can say, even now, to make sense of your life. The more I think about it, the more I don’t understand. I don’t understand why you had to experience what you experienced and why you had to suffer so…
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Dear Ruth, I Jumped off the Pedestal Because of You…
Dear Justice Ginsburg, May I call you Ruth? I want to call you Ruth because I consider you a friend (especially now more than ever). I know you didn’t know me, and I know I could be one of the millions of women who are writing you a letter after your death, but you see,…
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I’m One of the Lucky Ones; #MeToo, But…
I’ve never been raped. I’m one of the lucky ones. Violence from men towards women is at an alarming, disturbing high. It is extreme because we allow it. We dismiss, trivialize, ignore, and ridicule what happens to women. We laugh when woman talk about it. We silence their voices. We do not hear their cries,…
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My Voice Matters: A Letter From an Immigrant to Bernie Sanders
Dearest Senator Sanders, You have truly done it. I have not been one to get heavily involved in politics, but this year, I couldn’t help myself. The reason is you, Bernie Sanders. You have reminded me that I have a voice, and my voice is heard. You need to know, Mr. Sanders, in the past…
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Vilma Reynoso 