Sixteen

I thought about quitting these posts. Fifteen is a sort-of solid number to end things on, and by now you all know that I got hit by a Chevy Suburban when I was 23, broke eight bones, and spent a bumpy five months recovering in my New Hampshire hometown. But this year feels like the closest I have been to this story since it all actually happened so oops, I can’t quit these posts, just like I can’t quit talking about this important time in my life. Also because there’s another big part to this story that I’ve barely talked about.

Read More

Fifteen

Today is my fifteenth Alive Day, and I have to confess: I don’t feel very alive. I was going to say I feel “unalive,” but then I learned that’s Gen Z slang for suicide, so scratch that. (Although it’s also like a joking thing? I don’t know. I feel old.) And I don’t feel much like writing, but this fifteen-year anniversary of my very real brush with death feels too big to ignore.

Read More

Fourteen

I haven’t felt much like writing this year. This blog, my book draft, other attempts at deep thoughts on digital paper — all of them seem to require the same amount of energy as carrying a full laundry bag down ten blocks. But I still feel compelled to recognize my Alive Day. It’s my annual reminder to stop and think about how happy I am to be here.

Read More

Ten years

I've been thinking about this day a lot as it crept closer and closer, and now I'm stress-eating maple leaf cream cookies while thinking how to make this post Significant. Today marks ten years since I got hit by an SUV while walking down a sidewalk near Washington Square Park, not long after moving to New York. I fondly refer to it as my Alive Day, since somehow, despite landing on a concrete sidewalk, I rolled out of there alive. And now, ten years later, I feel the need to reflect in a way that's extra-profound. But I can't seem to find the right words, other than the usual, "Thanks, universe!"

Read More

Go be alive

Yes, it's that day again. That day where I think back to an October 20th years ago when everything changed. Is it getting old? Maybe. There's a good chance that all of you reading this are already like "GEEZ, we get it, some shit happened and you got all broken and then you got better. Can we go back to eating candy corn?" Well, for me, I don't think it's ever going to get old.

Read More