Published inILLUMINATION·PinnedMember-onlyThe French LessonFree, bright, and twenty-one — It was summertime in Norfolk, Virginia, in the Age of Aquarius. I had reluctantly dropped out of college because my father had lost his job in Paris and was living on trains with 30-day Eurail Passes I would send him. …Paris6 min readParis6 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·PinnedMember-onlyA Life-Changing Mountain Getaway, Costa Rica StyleAn awakening — Sometimes a girl just has to get away, even when she already lives in paradise. Those lawn and garden chores, dishes in the sink, grocery shopping and meal planning, laundry—not to mention actual work. …Costa Rica5 min readCosta Rica5 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·PinnedMember-onlyYes, It’s Possible to Have an Orgasm Without Having SexBut I don’t recommend this method — Author’s Note: Most of the research on spontaneous orgasms center around sex dreams, whether for male or female. What if there’s no sex? The Female Version I had a dream one morning recently, a powerful dream that caused me to wake up in the throes of a roaring orgasm. …Life Lessons5 min readLife Lessons5 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·PinnedMember-onlyThe Dog Days of Pura VidaWhen you can’t get a damn thing done — Ah, the dog days of summer, when the sun roasts me like a burnt marshmallow, and my productivity takes a vacation to a sandy beach. In this heat, my ambition melts faster than strawberry sherbet on a sizzling sidewalk, leaving me daydreaming of a chilly escape to Antarctica. The unrelenting…Costa Rica7 min readCosta Rica7 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·PinnedMember-onlyMy Years-long Battle with Undiagnosed Endometriosis“Patient Reassured” — As a 16-year-old senior in high school, I wore my gym clothes to school under my regular outfits to avoid exposing my skinny, underdeveloped, naked body to the jeering eyes of my much more round and bosomy classmates. Not only a year younger than everyone else — I had skipped…Womens Health7 min readWomens Health7 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Nov 4Member-onlyThat Tico GiftWhen they smile at you, the sun comes out — Today was the day to run a few errands in town, pay my facturas (utility bills), hit the ATM, and grab a few groceries. It’s always a fun adventure, no matter what, and I always look forward to whatever surprises may befall me. I was not disappointed this day. Because…Costa Rica5 min readCosta Rica5 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Oct 25Member-onlyIllicit LoveAnd a sinfully good villanelle — Recently, a good friend asked me to help him with a memoir he’s writing. He told me that he was hesitant to let me read it because I might judge him for some of the things he reveals about his private life and his history. But his is an important…Poetry3 min readPoetry3 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Oct 17Member-onlyWhen He Sang to HerA resurrection — Her heart was a deep dark dry well No tears left for tomorrow No laughter for today She merely wanted someone To take the pain away But when he sang to her that night “You fill up my senses…” She warned him, “Be careful! Someone could fall in love with you!”…Poetry1 min readPoetry1 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Oct 15Member-onlyThe Great Wall of La Palma, P.Z.Pre-Columbian Engineering by Cheito — Today is Friday the Thirteenth. Tomorrow will be the annular eclipse of 2023. And Sunday is the day I stay in bed until the NYT crossword puzzle is finished. All three events are of equivalent importance when displayed in my calendar, and must be respected equally. However, none of these…Engineering4 min readEngineering4 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·Oct 10Member-onlyThe Long WaitHow will it end? — All night she tossed and turned, sleeping fitfully, hoping to remember the long list of to-dos for the morning. The attraction between them was more than palpable; it filled the room with breathlessness. She wondered how their first encounter would go. All night she remembered his warm electric hugs. All…Romance3 min readRomance3 min read
