Category Archives: Family

Carson’s

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My brother Brian and I will most likely be the last generation of our family to work at Carson’s. A few weeks ago, their owners Bon Ton announced that they are closing down all their stores permanently, including Carson’s. We both were third generation of our family to work at the well-known Chicagoland department store. …

“Look for the Helpers…”

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Being 11 September here in New Zealand — even though the infamous 9/11 happened on 12 September 2001 here — some of my news feeds are showing images and sharing articles about the anniversary of 9/11. Every year, I feel something different. Having been through our own set of natural disasters — the initial quake …

25 Years Ago(-ish), I Started College

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Around 25 years ago, in late August 1992, I started college (erm, university for you British English speakers out there). It’s a right-of-passage many Americans go through every year when they’re 18, and I’m sure there are many stories about how that first year went for a great many people. Maybe my experience was unique, …

A Happier New Year, 2017 Style

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When another New Year rolls around, quite a few of us make resolutions to make this year different from the last.  We’re going to lose weight, or stop drinking so much, or run three times a week.  How often we stick to these resolutions really depends on our outlook and our drive to make such …

Learning to Enjoy Things Again

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One of the side effects of the dissociative disorder known as depersonalisation, for me at least, has been the lack of finding enjoyment in many things I used to enjoy.  This has been particularly disturbing for me, as, for those of you who know me can attest, it usually doesn’t take much to amuse me. …