Columns

As I write this, I just received word that a friend and co-worker passed away in his sleep last night. Unbelievable shock consumed me for several moments. My friend was in his early 30s and a fairly healthy guy who’s been working at the same…

Focusing on times of plenty and excess amid the COVID-19 pandemic seems foreign, or even rude. However, this calamity and all the pain it’s wrought cannot be all we see. Its prison walls are not opaque, just murky. We must look beyond them, look past…

During this pandemic, one of my most important goals is to keep busy and throw in any available distractions. I need to keep my mind from dwelling in negativity. So many things can shove me into a negative rabbit hole so I’ve had to fight hard to stay…

I’m always alarmed when I notice the progression of my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) symptoms, which highlight the harsh reality of my progressive neurological disease. Recently we got a new puppy, and training her has highlighted my FA progression. The last time I had a puppy was 2008. I got…

I’m really fortunate. My life hasn’t undergone a drastic change even though I’ve rarely left my house in three weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I work remotely and don’t drive, so I’m used to spending most of my time indoors. Since I am…

As the impact of COVID-19 continues to loom over the globe, our concerns and worries seem to increase as well. What started for many as an issue in some faraway region of the world is now a pandemic felt by all humanity.

One of the harsh realities of life with Friedreich’s ataxia is falling. That was my first major symptom and a red flag. I knew something was wrong because I was falling more than I did previously, and it happened more frequently than the average person my age. I am participating…

Long before COVID-19, a little girl named Eula walked to the end of the road to catch a school bus. It was 1935, so her bus ride to the small school in South Louisiana lacked the conveniences we take for granted today. For example, the…

It’s finally happened: the first outbreak within my parish (or “county” for you non-Louisiana folk) has been reported at the time of writing this column. While this pales in comparison to the number of outbreaks in Seattle, New York City, and even New…

There’s never a “good time” for the world to face a pandemic, or for a region or community to deal with such a significant threat to our health and lives. I suppose we can do or could have done certain things to be better prepared. And I’m sure…

In times like these, I wish I had superpowers or a magic wand to make everything better. The fear and panic caused by the coronavirus pandemic are taking a toll on me. I’ll admit, I didn’t view it as a serious matter until I went…

I was an athlete until my mid-20s. I swam competitively for 14 years and was a cheerleader, a volleyball player, and an avid runner. My involvement in organized sports ended with my formal schooling. However, that didn’t stop me from keeping in shape. I went to the gym at least…