It took me a while to notice my grandmother wasn’t around anymore. She was on an island. We tried to send a lifeboat but that wasn’t enough. Maybe I noticed when she couldn’t find the word for fireplace. She started doing that a lot. Looking for the words for things she’s known her whole life. Maybe I noticed when she couldn’t remember who I was. She started doing that. Not knowing who her family is.

A short life lesson

Would you go to Mars?

A conversation on a cab. — “I'm sorry, can you explain to me where that is? I can’t remember anything since COVID.” “It’s near freedom street. You had COVID?” I asked. “I was waking up from a 22-day coma at this time last year. I got back to work last month. I can’t remember most of…