soakupliving

About a year ago, a friend met me in Paris for his first trip to the City of Lights. In giving him the grand tour and my verbal overview about navigating the city both literally and figuratively, I realized that other first-time voyagers to Paris or France might value the cultural observations of someone who lived there for three years. Every time I visit Paris, I am struck speechless by its architectural splendor, bemused by its cultural quirkiness, and impressed by the inimitable flair with... Read Full Story

We've all heard them say it.  Some parents say it before you even ask.  Some say it so fast (usually after I've asked, "How do you handle it?  The screaming?  The stinky diapers?  The never having any time for yourself ever again?") and with such glowing smiles on their faces, that I often almost believe they mean it.  That they truly believe that having a child is worth the opportunity cost.  Worth the opportunity cost of lost freedom to do anything you want to do on a whim.  Worth the... Read Full Story

I grew up knowing that death had almost touched my family before death had ever touched my family. My dad, Allen Clark, was seriously wounded in Vietnam before I was born. From a young age, my little sister and I knew he had been hurt in something called a "war," although we didn't have the contextual understanding to know what a war was. We just knew that my dad had lost his legs there and that we were all happy that he came back alive. Many of his fellow soldiers were not so blessed. It... Read Full Story