The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: opinion

  • Self-Evident Truths?

    I think “obviously” is one of the most dangerous words in the English language, as is its more formal and old-fashioned counterpart, “self-evident”. When the US Declaration of Independence was written, with its famous, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” slavery was still legal on this continent, and…

  • Blogheimers

    If you’ve been in a long-term relationship, you’re probably well-versed in your partner’s stories. You’ve heard them all before. All you have to hear is, “That reminds me of the time when…” and you inwardly groan. Now imagine writing a daily blog for years on end. After a while you forget which stories you’ve told.…

  • On Being Enlightened by a Guru

    Once upon a time I was a freelance editor. I suppose I still am, technically. I just haven’t pursued work in that arena for quite some time. I enjoyed it, yes, but mainly did it to keep the wolves from the door. The wolves are still out there, but my door is a little more…

  • I Want to be Dear Abby

    I used to love to read Dear Abby and Ann Landers in the newspaper. Even as a small child, I thought that had to be the perfect gig. They got to write, and they could do it in their pajamas. I pictured them sitting there in flannel and bunny slippers, surrounded by stacks of letters…

  • Why I Vote

    I used to work with a woman who had never voted, had no intentions of ever doing so, and was quite proud of that fact. She hated this country and everything it stands for, and did not want to participate in it in any way. She dreamed of moving to the Australian outback, where she…

  • I’m Confident You’ll Want to Read This

    The other day I saw Katty Kay and Claire Shipman being interviewed on the Colbert Report. They were talking about their new book, The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance – What Women Should Know. It was a really fascinating discussion, and although I have not read the book yet, I plan to.…

  • The Best of The View from a Drawbridge

    I cannot believe it, but today is the one year anniversary of my blog! What a ride this has been. I’ve managed to post an entry every single day for an entire year. I would have never guessed I’d have this much to talk about. By writing this much I’ve learned a great deal as…

  • On Being Neutral, Like Switzerland

    To be honest, I don’t think you really can be neutral. Unless you’re a psychopath or extremely lazy, you are bound to form an opinion on whatever the subject at hand may be. However, as I get older I’ve begun to realize that you really do have to pick your battles. Some things are just…

  • The Power of Persuasion

    This should be a very short entry, because I’m fairly convinced that I’ve never changed anyone’s mind about anything. Ever. I mean, EVER. Wow. It feels good to admit that out loud. What a load off my shoulders! If there were a 12 step program for people like me, I’d be at step two. Step…

  • Awkward Information

    One time I had a 103 degree fever so I went to the doctor. On the way there I had stop at a very busy gas station to fill my tank. When I arrived at the doctor’s office I signed in at the front desk. Then I waited for an obscene amount of time in…