I've got a few, most notably one that has happened to my entire immediate family on our yearly trips to Barbados—but I'll freak myself out too much if I write about anything that has happened to me directly. So here's a story my grandmother told me: She was especially close to her cousin Robert. He lived in San…

Seriously, Greycat? I'm from Houston, and your comment is waaaaay off base. Houston has a history of being one of the most liberal and progressive Southern cities. It's one of the most international cities in the country as well. We may have terrible humidity and no zoning (makes for a kind of ugly city), but we…

I live in Houston. I grew up here, and I lived in Dallas for a couple of years after college. I have never, ever heard a white person use this word, with the exception of a neighbor I had growing up, a little old man well into his 80's.

Well said, Jezebelulia and Germankiwigirl! I am Episcopalian. My mother is Jewish, and my dad is Episcopalian, but we never went to church growing up. I was able to find my faith on my own, which worked well for me. I do struggle with elements of my faith, and I certainly struggle with certain positions help by…

"I wonder if Abercrombie has become a symbol of wealth only to those who aren't wealthy?" I'm 31 now, and this is exactly how it was in my high school, where kids could afford Abercrombie (and more expensive brands). The "popular" kids wouldn't touch it. Abercrombie was seen as a middle school thing, or as a brand…