Coming Undone Aïda Rogers Posted 9/13/23By Aïda RogersWhen my uncle died I was confident I could get through the funeral dry-eyed. He’d suffered a long time and because I lived next door, I felt somehow I was suffering too. The funeral would be nothing compared to what had come before.Then the...
Sweet Talk
Everything and Nothing: Sweet Talk Aïda Rogers Posted 6/1/23By Aïda RogersThere’s not much my friend Kathy and I don’t talk about. Somehow, though, we always end up on the topic of sweets. Usually it’s whatever ice cream flavor she’s discovered and what I’m mixing with my nonfat plain Greek yogurt to...
A cure for the Sunday Afternoon Blues
Everything and Nothing: A cure for the Sunday Afternoon Blues Aïda Rogers Posted 3/21/23By Aïda RogersFor many years I’ve been afflicted by the Sunday Afternoon Blues, which means that for almost as many years I’ve known how to get rid of them: I get out of the house and do something....
The thing he carries
Everything and Nothing: The thing he carries Aïda Rogers Posted December 13, 2022By Aïda RogersThe thing my father carries isn’t as old as he is, but it looks it. His briefcase can only be described with hyphens: banged-up, beat-up, worn-out. But those are my words. I don’t think he would use...
The hush before Christmas
Everything and Nothing: The hush before Christmas Aïda Rogers Posted December 13, 2022By Aïda RogersThere’s a moment close to Christmas Day when everything slows down. The crazy stuff stops and a hush descends, like the moment before the orchestra conductor puts down the baton and the applause erupts. You could call...
Love Story
Everything and Nothing: Love Story Aïda Rogers Posted November 9, 2022By Aïda RogersThere are all kinds of love in this world, and the one I’m in love with right now is right across the street. It involves my neighbor, Sharon, and Fancy, her cat.If you laugh I excommunicate you.As happens with...
A place of sanctuary
Everything and Nothing: A place of sanctuary Aïda Rogers Posted October 26, 2022By Aïda RogersThere are many words to describe the times we’re living in, and most connote noise. What a relief, then, to find a place where the noise is turned down, where vitriol won’t work, where collaboration, not competition,...
Summer Ballet
Everything and Nothing: Summer Ballet Aïda Rogers Posted August 16, 2022By Aïda RogersThe focus is immense. Across from me, a woman with brown hair is fixed to her phone. To my left, a woman with blonde hair has grown into her iPad. Before me on a small chair, an Asian man...
Voices from ‘a safe area not far’
Everything and Nothing: Voices from ‘a safe area not far’ Aïda Rogers Posted August 8, 2022By Aïda RogersTheir words come across my computer screen, words of explanation and description, dashed plans and new realizations. I receive them with no trouble in my cluttered South Carolina office. They’re from two young women...
A checklist for people who don’t like summer
Everything and Nothing: A checklist for people who don’t like summer Aïda Rogers Posted August 1, 2022By Aïda RogersFor someone who dislikes summer as much as I do, I can’t help but marvel at the many good things it provides. Proof of a divine generosity? I think so. Because it seems...