This week I’m celebrating a birthday, my 30th birthday in fact. I long ago discarded the idea that I should be at a certain pinnacle or milestone by a particular age; I remember vividly watching the Olympics, and seeing teenager after teenager accomplishing ‘what they had worked their entire lives’ for, and a little voice in [...]
In our ruggedly individualistic culture, I often wonder: what is it like to be famous because of the person you’re married to? To appear in the press, go down in history books, as “so-and-so’s wife”—to never, ever be mentioned without your spouse as starting point or explanation? In some ways, I think it must be [...]
When I fall in love with a man, I fall in love with the place connected to his heart by one red thread, anchored with a map pin. And being there in that city, or usually that small town (a place which no one has heard of—so, he says he’s from the nearby city that other [...]
Dear Sibyl, I’m going wedding dress shopping with my mother tomorrow. I didn’t really want to go and still feel ambivalent about it. My mother can be a loving, generous, supportive person. However, her insecurities can easily and unexpectedly be triggered, turning her into the Witch of the West. She can be mean and offensive [...]
The last few weeks, my Sibyl inbox has been empty. I was tempted to conclude, “My work here is done. Everyone is fixed.” Then, I encountered a whole bunch of pretty flawed and twitchy humans who could use a good Sibylizing. Therefore, I’m going to provide you all with a little encouragement to write in [...]
Meet the Local is a series designed to uncover the differences (and similarities) in how we think and live in different parts of the world. Over the upcoming months, I’ll ask locals from places all over the world the same set of getting-to-know-you questions. This week, we meet Jose, a former teacher who is making [...]
Dear Sibyl, I have a wonderful husband of 10 years and we have a good sex life. Often, I need a little help to get me in the mood, my choice is romance novels. Is this normal? Should my husband take offense? He’s never complained, but I just hope I’m not hurting his feelings. Thank [...]
I am the youngest one in the French language program in Chambéry, but was immediately placed in the highest level of classes upon my arrival. After the first month, the lessons begin to repeat themselves. My attention wanes. In February another young student arrives, a Swiss boy named Laurent. We get along in class and [...]
