Author Archives: g24khamr

I SPENT NEW YEAR’S EVE IN A MAKESHIFT TENT outside Hoag Hospital in Irvine, Calif., wondering whether my next breath would be the last. I had good reason: my Covid symptoms were getting worse, causing my throat to conspire against my lungs. Every breath felt futile, like climbing a hill made of quicksand. I wasContinue reading “Taking it One Breath at a Time”

WE’VE ALL SEEN THE STATS. As of this writing: Nearly 18 million cases in the United States and 317,000 deaths. My home state of California is breaking records every day. ICU space is at 0% here with no improvement in sight. This is horrible and sad. But for most people that’s where it ends —Continue reading “When a Number Becomes a Name”

WE MISSED YOU. I know, we’re the ones who kicked you out. Sorry about that. It wasn’t all of us, though — it wasn’t even a majority of us (we’ll talk about that Electoral College thing later.) But we’re here for you now, and we’d love for you to stay if you’ll have us. SorryContinue reading “Welcome Back, America”

THE MOST PRETENTIOUS THING YOU CAN DO IN HOLLYWOOD is say that a television show is “so much more than a television show.” The second most pretentious thing you can do is start a podcast just so you can talk in public with your famous friends, but I love Rob Lowe so dammit, he getsContinue reading “What’s Next: Why the West Wing Still Matters”

MONDAY IS YOM KIPPUR, THE JEWISH RELIGION’S DAY OF ATONEMENT. I have a lot to atone for. I regularly “skip intro” on Netflix shows; I don’t always wash my hands for a full two “happy birthdays”; and I generally use the posted speed limit as more of a suggestion. Jews believe so completely in “nobody’sContinue reading “Why Social Media Companies and News Organizations Need to Atone this Yom Kippur”

MAYBE I’M THE LAST PERSON WHO SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT PRIVILEGE. For years — almost my entire life — I never knew what privilege was. Because everyone I knew was just like me. I grew up in nice houses and neighborhoods. I never worried about money or getting whatever new toy was on the storeContinue reading “Finding the Hidden Power in Privilege”

The President of the United States tear-gassed peaceful protesters so he could stage a photo opportunity. He did this while saying he was an “ally to peaceful protesters.” Fuck you, Trump supporter reading this and preparing your ignorant talking points. Please just shut the fuck up for once. One more time: The President of theContinue reading “The Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”

IT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS. We were supposed to be on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., not in our Orange County living room. We were supposed to clap and cheer and laugh and cry as our daughter earned her International Affairs degree from The George Washington University — not stare at aContinue reading “Pomp Canceled, Due to Cicumstance”

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY INSIDE VOICES. They are voices filled with empathy and compassion. They are eager to be more helpful, anxious to be more connected, willing to be more human. Listen to the inside voices laughing together as they try to figure out Zoom. Hear the awkward conference calls, with kids playing and dogsContinue reading “Our Inside Voices”

“We are supposed to change, aren’t we? I’m not the same person I was 10 years ago or even 10 months ago. I’m sure you’re not the same person you were as a kid, and you won’t be the same when you retire. “We are supposed to change. Otherwise what’s the point of living?” TheContinue reading “Keeping it Real: Remaking Your Narrative in the Pandemic Age”