During my first creative writing class of my initial freshman semester in college, everything I handed in was a variation on the following theme: queer teenager with the desire to dye their hair strange colors fawns over a young gay man–unrequited love ensues. I have no idea what grade...

In 1990, I was motivated to dabble in environmentalism by seeing my first ever video about Earth Day, played for me by my 5th grade teacher, Ms. Smotek. When I saw this book featured at one of the bookstores I frequented with my parents, I asked them to buy...

After the formidable challenge of growing up in our house as adolescents, my relationship with my brother entered a new phase when I started college. One of the harbingers of this new era was me coming home for one of the first times after being away for my fall...

“I have to hurry up and get home today,” an intern said to me a few weeks ago. We were driving back to Columbus from a client out-of-town. I was preparing to drop them off at their car and head home myself. “Oh yeah, why’s that?” I said, asking...

Mark Richard Siegel and Carol Elaine Drew on their wedding day in March 1972     I was 29 years old when I first saw this picture of my parents. My grandmother and I were going through family photo albums. My grandparents were just starting their “we may die...

The feelings of closeness and solitude with other people after my father’s death were like the ocean tides: there were patterns of rushing in and rushing out. The first week after my father died, people rushed in: it was a crush of folks coming to his shiva, people coming...

After I met Wendy in the fall of 2002, I treated her like I did all of my Dad’s friends whom I met and liked: I got her e-mail address and sent her an e-mail saying it was nice to have met her and suggesting we should keep in...

This is an excerpt from the e-mail I received from my father’s mistress today: Hey JD, I’ve been meaning to let you know I’m finally settled in a little apartment in Palmyra, one town east of Hershey, right by the railroad tracks. I love it. I’m going through boxes...

My father’s study when he died suddenly at the age of 53: the flooring was red saltillo tile and the focus of the room was my father’s desktop computer, which was a larger IBM type model. In the early mornings before work and/or before my mother woke up, my...

My father showed up in a dream of mine last night. He has made intermittent appearances in my dreams since he died 13.5 years ago. I have always been a vivid dreamer. It was not until my father and his best friend Jim died (both suddenly, within exactly one month...