Catherine Gigante-Brown

Who says feminists don't love alpha males and cooking?

I try. I really do. But whenever I attempt to embrace my husband Peter’s Cuban culture, I always screw up.

Why do we venerate individuality in adults but condemn it in children?

All bets were off after 9/11. In a twisted way, it proved to me that worry was fruitless. No one ever saw the terrorist attacks coming.

Makeup and I have always had a love/hate relationship: I love it; it hates me.

I sat obediently in her chair atop four ancient copies of the Yellow Pages. Crossing my fingers, I prayed Catholic schoolgirl prayers.

You realize pretty soon that everything other than cancer — i.e. missing a train, being late to your dentist appointment — is no biggie compared to the suck factor of chemo.

Food can be more than nourishing; it can be healing.

I thought cancer was behind me. Until I had a weird pain near my left ovary which lasted for several days. It felt a lot like ovulation...Only, at 56, that train had left the station a long time ago.

Once upon a time, it was easier to keep track of gender. Today, not so much — the lines are blurred. For many, gender’s not so much about questioning your own identity as it is about questioning the very nature of identity.