I’ll always remember the day Dad taught me how to ride “a big girl’s bike.” He tried to prepare me after he took the training wheels off my fluorescent pink Huffy bicycle, which I had decorated with stickers and streamers. “You might lose your balance, Mallary. You have to ride slowly. But you can doContinue reading “Conquering Fears, Adding Some Adventure to Life”
Tag Archives: Personal writing
Grateful for Dad on Father’s Day
While looking through old photos recently, I came across one of my dad reading to me when I was a baby. He and my mom always read to me because they knew it helped me fall asleep faster and also because they wanted me to be well-read. When I was a baby, I used toContinue reading “Grateful for Dad on Father’s Day”
Mother-Daughter Song Stirs Memories of Happier Times with Mom
Not long ago, I rediscovered a tape of me and my mom singing together. We had made up the song together the night before Mother’s Day when I was about 7 or 8, and I recorded it on my Fisher Price tape player. Now at age 25 I treasure the song. It’s the only recordingContinue reading “Mother-Daughter Song Stirs Memories of Happier Times with Mom”
Skipping the Quarter-Life Crisis, Looking Forward to the Future
It’s a little surreal to think that, as of today, I’ve been living in Florida for three years. I came to Florida with the intention of staying here one year as part of my fellowship at The Poynter Institute. Then, life happened. My fellowship turned into a job that I love. When I think aboutContinue reading “Skipping the Quarter-Life Crisis, Looking Forward to the Future”
Running in the St. Anthony’s Triathlon
Last weekend I ran in my first triathlon — the St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, Fla. I was part of a relay team of girls who I hardly knew a month ago but who I grew closer with as we worked together to complete each leg of the race. Our team came in sixthContinue reading “Running in the St. Anthony’s Triathlon”
Stories about Motherhood, Childhood, Food & Journalism
I went through the articles I’ve posted on my Delicious page recently and realized that there are a lot of stories that have interested me lately. Not surprisingly, they have to do with journalism, moms, childhood and food — the subjects I like to write and read about the most. Here are some of theContinue reading “Stories about Motherhood, Childhood, Food & Journalism”
Personal Essay Sparks Reaction from Dad, Friends, Strangers
When I published a personal essay about my mom and food last week, I wondered what people would say — or if they’d say anything at all. To my surprise, though, the response has been overwhelming. Friends, coworkers, former teachers and strangers have commented on my blog and sent me Facebook messages, Tweets and e-mails.Continue reading “Personal Essay Sparks Reaction from Dad, Friends, Strangers”
How Losing My Mom Led Me to Neglect a Hungry Heart
Last month, I mentioned that I had begun a Poynter course on personal essay writing. My goal in the course was to write an essay about how the death of my mother has affected my relationship with food — today and in the immediate aftermath of her death. This isn’t an easy subject for me toContinue reading “How Losing My Mom Led Me to Neglect a Hungry Heart”
Window Seats Make Way for Curiosity, Good Stories
I’ve always loved window seats. So it was with great interest that I read this New York Times story about a pilot’s pleasure for seats with views. The pilot, Mark Vanhoenacker, explains his reasoning and writes about which cities offer the best views for passengers who are lucky enough to snag a window seat. Sure,Continue reading “Window Seats Make Way for Curiosity, Good Stories”
Pursuing the ‘Craft of the Personal Essay’
Personal essay writing has always been my saving grace. When the spoken word fails, when I have the urge to get out my feelings, when I want to preserve a memory, I write. In recent years, I’ve written a lot of personal essays that touch upon universal themes — mother-daughter relationships, loss and healing. IContinue reading “Pursuing the ‘Craft of the Personal Essay’”
Word on the Street 