essays and articles

A screenshot from Salon.com with a headline that reads: "My parents died and left me a mortgage, some guns and 34 decorative fish" by Becky Robison

My parents died and left me a mortgage, some guns and 34 decorative fish
Salon
Unlike me, most of my friends still have their parents. Most of my friends have never had to write an obituary, or file a life insurance claim, or deal with probate court.

Laughing in the Face of Death: Joy as Coping Mechanism
The Conversation Project
Cancer isn’t funny. Neither is death. But if you look hard enough, you can find humor around the edges of both — or at least I was able to. I think I needed to.

My parents are dead—can I afford avocado toast now?
One of Salon’s 10 most popular life stories of 2023
Salon
Lately the grim reaper and I have grown so close we might as well exchange friendship bracelets.

We’re Going to Be Using “We” a Little Less
Slate
The corporate We, however, can serve to obfuscate. Every time I use it, I’m describing a culture of care that doesn’t truly exist.

I don’t miss coffee, but
Atlas and Alice
There’s something menstrual about the smell of coffee, thick and bitter as the beans are ground and brewed to liquid.

A red Hyundai sits on a black background in a fog of smoke, two cartoon ghosts emerging from its interior. The license plate says DEAD.

The Harrowing Tale of the Ghost Car: Or, You May Be Less Prepared to Die Than You Think
TalkDeath
I literally wrote a book about how to deal with post-death legal and financial logistics, and I still can’t exorcise this car from my to-do list.

A screenshot from the Electric Lit website with the headline "7 Books that Reveal How Capitalism is Coming For Your Corpse"

7 Books That Reveal How Capitalism is Coming for Your Corpse
Electric Literature
Here are some books that show how the invisible hand of the market reaches far beyond the grave.

The Therapeutic Power of Satanic Metal
Grieve Leave
A death with agency, with a pledge to the Devil and moonlight dancing. A death that isn’t a death—it’s a rock show. And rock never dies.

Funerals, Meet Millennials
Connecting Directors
Over the next few decades, Millennials will become the funeral industry’s primary customers—and we’re bringing our phone call phobia and eco-friendly values with us.

My parents are dead. Here are the 5 most important things I've learned as executor.
Insider
We all expect grief, but nobody tells you about the legal and financial hoops you’ll have to jump through after the death of a loved one.