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It’s the last day on the Gregorian year 2020, and I have broken down crying about a sofa twice in the past 24 hours. We just moved into a new house last…
Jesslyn Shields
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There are two men in my kitchen running a machine. I don’t know what kind of machine it is but it’s loud and likely a saw. They’re cutting a hole for…
Jesslyn Shields
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I can’t promise there will always be a metaphor, but since I secretly (?) love Rules, I can’t promise there won’t be. Today I was talking to a friend on…
Jesslyn Shields
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Yesterday I got an email from my mom, subject line: “Sad.” The first line was, “I should never, ever, ever try to do this kind of project on a…
Jesslyn Shields
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In my family, as in the world, there are some things I can’t have because I’m a girl. You wouldn’t believe how agitated people become when I say this…
Jesslyn Shields
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My grandmother passed away last week. Gigi died well, in her own home, holding the hand of somebody she loved very much. One day I’ll tell you more…
Jesslyn Shields
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Today I made my last payment on the $65,000 in student loan debt I racked up between 1996 and 2000. It’s a Wednesday during the pandemic and it’s so hot…
Jesslyn Shields
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I used to be a middle school science teacher, and one of my favorite kids — let’s call him Ryan — was sensitive. I love sensitive kids because they know…
Jesslyn Shields
6
A friend of mine has trouble talking to his dad about politics. This is not an uncommon problem, nor is having an elderly white dad who voted for Donald…
Jesslyn Shields
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Several years ago, I was at a birthday dinner at a sushi bar and I sat next to a woman who was an artist, but she confessed that what she had always…
Jesslyn Shields
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Hi! How have you been? Have you personally stress-bought postage stamps in an effort to singlehandedly wrench our democracy from the the slathering maw…
Jesslyn Shields
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The other day I was on a video conference with some people I didn’t know, and the host thought it would be fun if we all introduced ourselves by…
Jesslyn Shields
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