NOTE: THESE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT EXPLAIN YOUR “RIGHTS” (A TERM USED EUPHEMESTICALLY HERE TO MEAN “UNEQUIVOCAL RESPONSIBILITIES”) TO ENSURE YOUR MOTHER’S SANITY AND THEREBY YOUR SAFETY (ALBEIT INDIRECTLY). NOTHING IN THESE RULES GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO QUESTION, ARGUE OR OTHERWISE CONTRARILY ENGAGE YOUR MOTHER IN DISCUSSIONS GEARED TOWARD SIMPLIFYING YOUR LIFE. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THESE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT ARE SOLELY ABOUT SIMPLIFYING YOUR MOTHER’S LIFE. You have the right to pick from your floor—and from under your bed—all of (...Read More)

I am terrified of insects.  There are plenty of terms for this fear which I give no merit to since I happen to think running naked screaming from the bathroom because something with eight legs and eyes is lurking in the shower waiting for a chance to pounce while you are rinsing shampoo out of your hair is not a phobia, it is just common sense. Living in Arizona has forced me to deal with the absolute worst insect of (...Read More)

Wright family events are not small gatherings. Mr. Wright is the fourth of five children, and he and his siblings, along with their respective spouses, have produced for his parents 22 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren—so far. Throw in the far-flung cousins and their kids, and any congregation site qualifies for its own congressional district. When we all flood into my in-laws’ condo for a week during the summer, we may or may not be pushing the limits of the fire (...Read More)