Cynthia Graber

I once was dubbed queen of Jewish geography, it was one of my favorite games. Watching this string of connections play out has made me physically ill — and I'm glad someone wrote about it.

Me after reading another depressing article about horrible men (at harvard) & Epstein, to spouse: "It's a good thing I have you, I'm not sure how I'd be feeling about men right now." Him, not missing a beat: "It's a good thing I have *you,* I'm not sure how I'd be feeling about Americans right now."

There's a serious fandom world out there!

hah no. a black t w/ an image of veronica staring out a car window-bc, yes, it's true, i gave some money for the movie to be made, and this was my gift. (the amount of money I handed over was basically the price of said tshirt). but have to say, it's my MOST commented on article of clothing - ever!

I think I won serious points with my teen mentee when she saw my VM tshirt

Fri: okay, the storm looks like it might actually hit us, but it won't be too bad, your doctor's office will be open. Sat: Welllll, the storm is definitely getting closer to shore, looks like we'll get hit. Sun: HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS IT'S GOING TO BE A WILD RIDE!" (Readers, the doc did indeed close.)

Huge fan! Locals should follow!

I told my mom when I was 16 that if I didn't meet someone by the time I was 30 I'd have a kid on my own, and she said, 'okay, I guess feminism succeeded.' (I didn't meet someone by 30, and I didn't decide to have a kid on my own, but I learned what I was supposed to learn!)

Mine were def crunch and not hippie but yeah! We were raised to care! about everything!

YES I FORGOT FREE TO BE YOU AND I ME. I have that entire album memorized. Every word. I mean, really - we gen-x-ers were raised on anti-racism pro-gender-freedom messaging!

I feel like my whole childhood was about teaching me to care. Yes, I have a politically interested and involved family. But is that so unusual for my generation? Doesn't feel like it could possibly be!

regularly going to protests (yes, DC area baby), early attempts at recycling, crunchy parents who used the word "melanin" to describe people who looked diff from me (as in 'they just have more melanin in their skin') (no they weren't ignoring racism), movies about kids taking on the world 2/

I'm missing something in the 'gen x is the worst generation, least likely to care etc' discourse. I'm gen-x. I was raised on early Earth Days, lots of gender-neutral kids' clothing, Sesame Street, Mr Rogers Neighborhood 1/

(I did also tell her that the assault I knew of from when I was in college and a friend's kid were by people they knew, not strangers. And that I think someone I was with at a bar was roofied in my 30s. So it's still...everything.)

She's turning 18 in May and is excited to be able to go to 18+ places downtown, go to drag shows, etc (ones she can afford, anyway), and I hated that I still have to say, 'remember, either here or in college, watch your drink, and make sure your friends know where you are.' Fricking sucks.

I told her my spouse says she's broken me for other mentees because we're so perfectly matched, and she said, 'that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.' She's sharp and funny and smart and cares about the world and also wants to tell everyone who deserves it straight where they can go

Truly, I know I talk about her a lot here, but whenever I'm feeling down, then get to spend a couple of hours (or more, often more these days) with the local first-gen college student I'm mentoring—now working on scholarship apps—I just...feel better. She totally rocks.

This is the greatest.

So funny and delightful! And describes my vanilla marriage quite perfectly. My 2-person hetero supportive, egalitarian, loving relationship is, as you say, like driftwood becoming a beautiful table. Not the same analogy, but things that had been poisonous can be amazing when they're transformed!

‘I feel reborn’: A Providence program is using GLP-1 drugs to free people from addiction - The Boston Globe A pilot program is testing the surprising benefits of weight-loss drugs for substance use disorders.

Things are so deeply horrifying in the world, & in medicine (vaccines, Moderna, etc), so it's maybe even more moving/beautiful to read stories like this, abt the power of glp-1s to potentially help with addiction (though I'm worried about long-term access!) - www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/12/m...

I can barely imagine, even after reading your entire thread. So - thank you.

Oh I remember when I was out dancing to it and it was...yeah.

Have you read Ten Thousand Doors of January by alix harrow? It was her first and somehow I missed it (I’ve read others and loved them) - I just read it because my spouse read/loved it and it’s BEAUTIFUL

YES. This person needs more muscle mass, not less. Related, I worry about this person getting enough protein (which I know most of us get enough, I'm not protein-ified, but I know their diet and they usually don't)

(meant more weight loss) They're in the 80-ish realm, and already don't always eat enough. (Sometimes they eat more than they need, sure.) But if their hunger was knocked out more, I worry they wouldn't get nutrients needed to be healthy! (I know that wasn't yr point, it was bigger. But still...)

They had been a lot heavier, had bariatric surgery a long time ago, lost a bunch of weight. All their numbers are good (cholesterol, sugar, etc). They lost a lot of mobility with cancer treatment/nerve issues a couple yrs ago. More weight might help. BUT they already don't have a great diet. 2/

I've been thinking about this a lot because we recently saw family friends (parent age), and the wife of the couple has been on the drugs for years and was *skinny.* A fam member keeps flirting w/the idea (has a prescription, hasn't filled it), but it worries me. Medically worries me. 1/

Super smart, wry, and very very painful.

But now what helps keep me (barely) functioning: my spouse, my friends, the gym, talking to people at the gym, adult intro tap dancing classes (!), reading fiction, listening to music, theater, going out to eat and talking to the staff at the restaurant. (I know not all is free, but some are...)

Just barely functioning these days feels like a full time job.