What I carried to Los Angeles last week, what I carry everywhere

On trauma anniversaries, longing, art, tar pits, feeling like an outsider, and writing & surviving out of spite

The truth is I lead a pretty lonely life. It’s rich with wonder and love through books and film, my furry kids, my small circle of friends, and with the effort I put into connecting with nature. When my mother-in-law (whom I took care of through several bouts of cancer) died, I was unprepared for feeling like I no longer served a purpose. The anniversar…