My first exposure to coffee was the harsh, bitter taste of decaf in the lobby of a Hilton Inn. I’d begged for it, after seeing how my mother constantly filtered through one more cup in the mornings, two splenda, and a slow pour of milk that just clouded up to the surface. Mom would drink more on these long road trips, in cups that weren’t good, but practical. Continue reading A slow, careful roast

I wanted to know what flying was like until a few months ago. That day, my father and I woke up at four in the morning to pack our car with our new swimming mask, fins, and water shoes, then drove to Pompano Beach, Florida to go scuba diving for the first time. Continue reading Sixty feet underwater

When I was younger, I never understood how someone could love a butterfly. They scared me back then. I thought butterflies were just another creepy bug to avoid. I never saw their beauty or their grace; only their horrifying, spindly legs, and something I thought could kill me if it got too close. Continue reading Putting the Wings Back

During a migraine, neurons send messages along the trigeminal nerves, which is a major pain pathway, to the blood vessels on the surface of the brain. These blood vessels expand or dilate in response. I have been living with these migraines for far too long now. Continue reading Underneath the skull