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Throughout the renovation that my husband and I did on our house, as I was writing episodes about each phase of the construction, I kept thinking I'd never show them to anyone.  I'd certainly heard about people having emotional ups and downs during their home renovations, but usually those stories involved marital conflict over the tile color, or anger over unexpected builder fees, or frustration about the permit process.  I hadn't been spared those feelings, but the renovation was prompting much deeper things to happen inside me.

For instance, the demolition pitched me into a long-suppressed grief about my not having had children.  Our do-it-yourself building of a stone wall made me realize the fortitude I'd need to deal with my mother's newly-diagnosed dementia.  And a shocking disaster forced me to decide between rancor toward those who were responsible, and the calm, let's-get-on-with-the-repair approach of my architect husband. 

Around the time we finished the house, I saw an article in Newsweek about a family therapist named Rachel Cox who, incredibly, specialized in people going through home renovations. I contacted her and asked if she would meet with me so I could find out if my experience was completely off the wall.  She said yes and spent three days talking to me. 

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Veganism will never, in my view, be a widely accepted lifestyle choice...ever. And not because it isn't a gorgeous way to live (because it is...); not because it is a deprived and grim way to eat (because it isn't...); not because it's too weird or left of center (okay, I'll give you that one...). No, veganism will never thrive because a lot of vegans will not allow it.

 I was reading an article recently...written by a good friend of mine, someone I love and adore, respect and admire. I was so upset by what I read that I thought my head would explode. Maybe it's me, but the attitude he displays in the piece shows me arrogance underneath the supposed compassion he professes.

The article was all about the word vegan and its proper use. You may say, huh? I did. You know that joke I make about not being ‘vegan enough' for most vegans. I think it may be true, sadly. Apparently, you may only use the word ‘vegan' to describe yourself if you choose this compassionate way of living in order not to contribute to cruelty to animals. (It's apparently okay to be mean to people, just not animals...). And before anybody goes nuts and writes me about compassion and animals, I am all in for that, so save your breath.

» Sebastian Barry discusses and reads from his novel, which looks back on the life of an Irish woman who is nearing 100, and has been institutionalized for most of her later years.

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Sebastian Barry, The Secret Scripture, Podcast