Weekend Open Thread

An Australian nurse named Bronnie Ware, who spent several years caring for patients at the end of their lives, documented their dying thoughts in a blog that was later made into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. She said, “When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again.” Among the top regrets of the dying patients Ware cared for were these five: 1. “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” 2. “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.” 3. “I wish I’d had the courage…

Larry Smith, the founder of Smith Magazine, has edited a poignant new collection of essays called “The Moment” about the blip in time that a person’s life veers in a new direction. My own personal “moment that changed everything” came nearly six years ago when my friend Meg picked up her phone in Chicago and called her friend Drew in Manhattan and asked if he’d like to show me around when I visited New York a couple of weeks later. He took me out for sushi, we ended up spending most of the weekend together, and dated long distance — flying back and forth between our two cities once or twice a month…

Happy Friday and happy 11-11-11! It’s Corduroy Day. It’s also Make-a-Wish day. I don’t need for much, but of course I can always come up with some wishes. I wish that Jackson would start sleeping more than three or four hours at a time during the night (though I’m thankful he’s started sleeping that much!). I wish it were easier to lose the baby weight. I wish I had an endless supply of money, Tootsie Rolls and patience. I wish “Mad Men” were hurry up and start already. I wish all my friends and family lived closer. I wish I had a personal chef. I wish Miles and Simone could stay with…

In the comments section of yesterday’s column, reader, 6napkinburger, talked about seeing her ex whom she broke up with five weeks ago. She was in his work neighborhood and rather than risk running into him accidentally, she decided to call him and tell him she was there, thinking she’d have a little more control of the situation that way. Reading her comment got me thinking about running into exes — especially that first post-breakup run-in when the feelings are still so raw. My first serious boyfriend lived across the street from me, so after we broke up I had to see him all the time. Of course, in those initial weeks after…

First of all, you’re going to have to excuse the gratuitous baby photos from here on out. I’m a proud mama and can’t resist sharing them occasionally. This one was taken at the pediatrician’s office as we awaited Jack’s weigh-in. Isn’t he a doll? I just love him to pieces… even if he does keep me and his dad awake all night long and can’t stop pissing through all his onesies. Seriously, who woulda thought a little five-pound guy with about six outfits that currently fit him could possibly create SO MUCH dirty laundry?! It’s mind-boggling. Now, onto this weekend’s open thread! Last week, I shared the story of how Drew and…

In today’s shortcuts column, a discussion sprang up in the comments section over reader’s ages, where people live and what they do for a living. I suggested we move the discussion to this weekend’s open thread and here we are. So, consider this a meet-n-greet. Now’s your chance to formally introduce yourself to other DW community members and find out a little about them. Feel free to give your biological age, your emotional age, what your job is, where you live, what you do for fun, and relationship status … and anything else you want to talk about. I’ll start: I just turned 35, but I’ve felt 28 for the last seven…

Here on the East Coast, fall made a pretty dramatic entrance yesterday morning. In 24 hours, the temperature dropped something like 30 degrees and suddenly everyone’s breaking out cozy cardigans, cute newsboy caps and stylish oxford shoes. Typically, I love going “back-to-school” shopping this time of year, but with a big belly and about five weeks to go until I deliver this baby, I’m holding off on my usual seasonal shopping spree until I fit back into normal-size clothes again. In the meantime, I’ll be wearing the same three or four seasonally-appropriate things that actually fit me over and over again because what’s the point in dropping money on something I’ll only…

This was a hard week for me, and the weekend is definitely welcomed. Miles, who was diagnosed with diabetes last week, took a sudden turn for the worse Sunday night/Monday morning. He and our other cat, Simone, stopped eating and drinking. I think they picked up some virus or maybe ate something contaminated — I’m not sure. Simone, strong an an ox, trucked though it, but by Wednesday, Miles still wasn’t eating or drinking and his already-stressed body started breaking down. I took him to the vet immediately and she told us he was in really bad shape and may not make it through the weekend. She said we should consider putting…