Ann Anderson Evans

Love and The Plague

On Friday, I got a phone call from someone who said he was my son, though the voice was sepulchral, and barely audible. He was sick. “I’ll be up this afternoon,” I instantly said. He and his wife are house parents at a sorority at Cornell. Forty-six of the 49 sorority sisters were sick, fiveContinue reading “Love and The Plague”

Recent failures

I’ve had a few recent failures. They’ve left a sour taste. Here’s one. Nick’s profile showed a handsome, white-haired, fit man with an engaging smile. He was a writer/teacher, like me (a double-edged sword), and stated that he wanted a woman who was not bitter or angry, which implied the same was true of him.Continue reading “Recent failures”

Dominant submission/Submissive dominance

My friend Howard likes to be tied up. Or down. He explained, “I spend my days telling people what to do, and when I have sex, I don’t want to have to make any choices.” We were fond of each other, respected each other, but were ill-matched for romance. I haven’t seen him in quiteContinue reading “Dominant submission/Submissive dominance”

Conservative values

“I have conservative values,” said M’s profile. What does that mean? I begin by thinking this person doesn’t like gay people, single mothers, and people on welfare, tries to limit his sex life, and is a Republican. I asked M. what he meant by that, and he answered that he tried to live his life,Continue reading “Conservative values”

Doing Nothing

I spent New Year’s Eve sitting cozily in bed reading a book, Saving Fish From Drowning, by Amy Tan. It was lovely. New Year’s Day I went to a Danish friend’s house to join her family for a Danish smorgasbord. That was lovely too. A year ago I would have been lonely, depressed. I feelContinue reading “Doing Nothing”

Every woman's dream man.

Women dream of men like Bill. He is tall, thin, good looking, competent and capable (and thoroughly solvent). He can dance. Strength, courage, decisiveness, discretion, insight, generosity, tolerance, loyalty, optimism, appreciation and understanding of others, discipline, manliness, love of sex. He has a slight New York accent, a degree from the Wharton School, was aContinue reading “Every woman's dream man.”

The harder they fall….

Celibacy corrupts. A man contacted me yesterday. He knew how to spell, which is alway a surprise on the internet, and was eloquent and amusing, cultured and clear. We wrote of our families, our careers, our travels, in a literate way. I was interested. I spent too much of my morning writing to him. IContinue reading “The harder they fall….”

Bob Dylan

I’m breathless from the Bob Dylan concert. He is a superb musician, with a keen eye for good side men. The words were mostly incomprehensible but it didn’t matter. The kids, teenagers and college kids, who were there mostly sat in their seats like stones. Their parents were grooving. Even when music of an assaultContinue reading “Bob Dylan”

Eulogy for Louis

I have finished two bottles of Tsingtao beer, turned on a CD of Stephan Grapelli and George Shearing, and danced around the living room with the lights out so people passing on the street couldn’t see me. I am dancing, mourning, over my beloved friend Louis, who died of a massive heart attack in August,Continue reading “Eulogy for Louis”

News & Book Reviews — Page 34