Category: Friends + Family

FF

Daddy, Dementia and Letting Go

“Celebrate more in life, even the little things. I didn’t do that enough.” —Herman Soichi Noji When I think about my father’s journey at the end of his life, the word that comes up is MAGIC. There were days in which his dementia took full force, and the nurses would see a vacant man… but […]

About Minae Noji

Minae Noji is a writer, actress, voice-over Empress and rat enthusiast. She makes her home in Los Angeles and is devoted to empowerment, wholeheartedness, and studly ninjas.

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Dad, I Forgive You

Raise your hand. Who’s had a perfect childhood? Who has perfect parents? Who has the perfect family? Unfortunately, most of us experienced a less than perfect childhood. Most of use have a less than perfect family. Most of us have less than perfect parents. After decades of being angry, disappointed, and resentful, I finally learned […]

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Good. Better. Best. Do not rest until the GOOD becomes BETTER and the better becomes BEST.

My father was known for his positive and motivating adages. I have dreaded the mere thought of this day for my entire life. I have thought that the day my father’s heart stops beating will be the day that I take my very last breath. I have thought I can not live here on this earth without […]

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Being A Father

I’m fortunate enough to call myself Father to two kids. I’m sure at times, they’ve had other words to call me, and probably well deserved. I did hope for fatherhood perfection, but I don’t think I came close to the mark. I wanted to be the ideal father. I knew the Cleaver family wasn’t going […]

About Bert Woodson

Bert Woodson currently lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast in Cortez, with his Rhodesian Ridgeback, Colt, and Colt’s kitty Woof. (Yes, he named him.)

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I’m Just Not That Into You: Breaking Up With My Best Friend

It was the first day of English class. Students were waiting outside the classroom, most plugged into their phone, others chatting away with friends. There was a girl; I’ll never forget her bright yellow rain boots, who sat leaning against the wall. I smiled, as more and more people walked the halls to their next […]

About Sophie Winik

I was a writer for I Am That Girl, a place that helps empower young girls. A place that was so safe I knew I could write about personal things and feel safe in doing so. Not only that but a place where my words would make a difference. And that is something I continue to be passionate about. To share my truth, even if it means I have to show my own vulnerability, and make a difference. To use my voice as an outlook for others. To help inspire and encourage others to share their truth. If I have made a difference to one single person, I know I have done good.

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Love Letter to My Female Ancestors

Dear Female Ancestors, I have decided to do something impossible. I want to communicate back through time and space the love I feel for each and every one of my female ancestors. Human limitations being what they are, of course, I am limited to writing this love letter in my own time and space with […]

About John Michael Antonio

John Michael Antonio is a freelance writer, photographer, poet and screenwriter. He claims his Midwestern roots while at the same time admitting his incurable and insatiable love and addiction for all things New York City. He has been the husband to his wife, the love of his life, for almost thirty years and is a father of three wonderful children. He is an unapologetic male feminist as well as a passionate lover of fashion, art, movies and music from all eras and genres. An endless dreamer, John Michael is also an avid historian, ex-punk rocker and a legendary Internet surfer who sleeps, on average, about four hours a day. His work has also been featured on The Good Men Project.

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The Last Thing

The last thing she wanted was to be in just another pretty box house in a small town sand box in the yard Joined the army World War II Driver of Ike I’m told Loved to drive mediation on the move unattached independent Grandma’s happy because she’s going away The last thing she wanted was […]

About Margaret Emerson

When Margaret Emerson retired from her career as a professor of nursing, she felt life open to her true passions: creating art through painting and poetry. She lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard where a large artist community promotes exploration and expression. As a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Poets Collective, Margaret attends weekly workshops giving and receiving feedback about members writing. She has published poetry in local newspapers and has given readings at many programs on the island. Margaret’s poems are inspired by the awe in everyday life.

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Three of a Kind

For Faith and Praise I remember sitting at the make-up table in our room writing goodbye letters to mummy, daddy, and each of you, interrupted every now and then by a tear which would spill out until it finally gave way to something like a crying-out-loud – It sounds silly now. I was only moving […]

About Esther Vincent

Esther Vincent is a poet from Singapore, who teaches Literary Arts and Literature at the School of the Arts, Singapore. She writes poetry that resonates on both personal and political levels and believes that poetry should empower, not exclude, engage, not evade. She was co-editor of a poetry anthology, Little Things (2013) and the accompanying Teacher's Guide (2013). Her poems have been published in New Asian Writing (Nov2016), Unhomed (2016), Sound of Mind (2014), LIVEPress Pilot (2014-2015), Little Things (2013), Ceriph #4 (2011) and in Message in a Bottle Poetry Magazine Editorial 13. Her poem, "Excuse me, what is your race?" was translated into Russian in To Go To S'pore (2013) by Kirill Cherbitski. She is currently working on a new collection of poems.

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