Fierce Advocacy

I first sat down with Cathy Taylor in between her errands on a Sunday afternoon. It was easier that way, as her absence from home is always dutifully scrutinized by her son, Justin. She’d given him a complete report on where she was going and what time she’d be home. Smiling, she described his needing…

Wonderfully Weird

The first time I saw Tamora Israel, she was commanding the stage at the Provincetown TEDx Talks. This is not an exaggeration; she owned it. I, along with over 300 other audience members, sat in awe as we watched her confidently blend poetry and conversation, sharing her ideas on “New rules for consent in the…

Drive

Tonight’s special was Shepard’s pie and there was a line out the door. Hungry smiling faces of all ages made their way to the counter to fill their plates; their smiles mirrored back by the workers serving them. The place was buzzing with energy and comradery, and Jeni Wheeler was the source. Her laughter lit…

Strength

Melissa Verdi is strong, inside and out. We met after her shift at the hospital. She was squeezing in time to chat with me before her two-hour workout at the gym. We sat in my car at the beach, the rain deterring our plans to walk. Sipping her coffee, she quickly warned me that she…

Resiliency

Gwen Hobgood is in love. I could see it in her smile. I sat down with Gwen on a sunny May afternoon in her South Yarmouth home. Upon entering the doorway, it’s obvious you are in artist territory. Her paintings line the walls, deep rich colors of the southwest. Her students enjoy private lessons in…