Thanh Tinh Chay is a vegan, vegetarian restaurant, specializing of course in the cuisine of Viet Nam. Helen, the proprietor, adopted a Western name upon emigration to the U.S. She and her staff make all of the food from scratch, in their kitchen. The mock meat choices are absolutely delicious. I am especially fond of the Teriyaki chicken, and “Helen’s Noodles”. The vegan desserts are better than the “real” versions they represent. The crème brûlée is addictive.
Continue readingMany years ago I worked in the intensive care unit of a psychiatric ward at Mercy Hospital. Armed lightly with my newly minted bachelor’s degree in psychology, my task was to be a custodian of psychotics, suicidal depressives and bipolar sufferers. Once in a while we’d also get a patient experiencing drug-induced hallucinations.
[This guest article from my daughter, Serra Sewitch-Posey, is a call for authenticity, heart and bravery in the midst of our chaotic, uncertain times. May it inspire you as it did me.]
We are all confused and afraid. We are desensitized to horrific things. We go about our days planning dinners, doing our jobs, watching our shows. I feel distant, buffered from the madness unfolding at the White House, the constant “breaking news” email updates. I am buffered by my privilege, for now. My life has not been personally affected. I don’t feel the danger.
I feel strangely hopeful and alive. I like where I’m at in my life. I take walks and fold laundry and bake peanut butter banana muffins.
Continue readingAmong the flurry of executive orders President Trump issued in his first days returning to the White House is the removal of prior executive orders that established actions required of federal contractors (including sub-contractors and grant recipients) towards improving the representation in their workforce of historically disadvantaged and excluded segments of our population. Such “affirmative action” programs have had a contentious reception over the decades since the most famous executive order, 11246, was issued by President Lyndon Johnson, one year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
