The Consequences of Actions

The Consequences of Actions

Winter essayists ponder how things might have been different if they had a second chance.

Hindsight, as they say, is 20-20—or is it? In this year’s winter essay contest, East Bay writers think back on a pivotal or inconsequential decision to explore what they could have or should have done differently if given a second chance.

The essays are funny and lighthearted, touching and dramatic, philosophical and contrite. They follow the authors’ journey through careers, relationships, deaths, elementary school, high school, and resettlement. The pieces are populated with a plucky graduate student, a sorrowful son, a regretful mother, an awkward teen, a tomboy pupil, a clueless mom, and someone starting over. Settle in for a nice winter’s read.

Congratulation to the winning essayists—Julie Anderson, Naneen Karraker, Maureen Ellen O’Leary, Rosie Sorenson, Wendy Bomberg, Diane K. Quimby, and Robert Menzimer. Thanks also to the many other fine East Bay writers who submitted essays for the winter contest. The Monthly also does a summer essay contest.

Speak Chinese and Juggle For Me
Recalling an unexpected encounter with Sergey Brin. By Julie Anderson

Running in Floppy Sandals
A mother longs to have reined in a reckless part of herself. By Naneen Karraker

Outlier
Would saying yes have made any difference? By Maureen Ellen O’Leary

Billy and Me
Rooting for a match-up against Bearcat Weaver. By Rosie Sorenson

What I Learned
A play date crumbles in a Church’s Chicken parking lot. By Wendy Bomberg

Present Pioneer
She finds what it takes to start over. By Diane K. Quimby

The Beds We Make
Sometimes there is no doing something over. By Robert Menzimer

Faces of the East Bay

In the Philanthropic Swim

In the Philanthropic Swim

Rockridge residents John Bliss and Kim Thompson may live far removed the gritty flats of East and West Oakland. But this philanthropic couple see themselves as one with the citizens of Oakland, particularly those who are struggling financially, and they’re leading a campaign to get their “financially blessed” peers to invest in the community like they have by funding city programs to teach kids how to swim.