Author: Elise Patkotak

Bedlam was a real place. There was a time in British history when it was second only to St. Paul’s Cathedral as a place to visit in London. For a nominal fee, the general public was allowed to enter Bedlam and view its patients. It was considered one of the best shows in town and was so cheap that even Londoners put out the money for multiple visits because you never knew what the show would be that day.

Patients were often naked and chained to beds and walls and each other. The treatments prescribed were in some ways barbaric Continue reading →

So just exactly what is it that we expect from our police? Yes, I fully understand that they should not be racist. Seriously, that should just be a given. They should also not be prone to violence in their policing duties. Yes, there may be times when the only answer is a drawn gun. But that should never be the answer to a call for help with a social services or mental health situation. In fact, why the hell are we asking the police to respond to those things in the first place?

A person experiencing a mental health crisis Continue reading →

I like to think that I am handling this isolation thing very well. Then I realize that I have not only adopted another dog, but I have also embarked on major house renovations. I guess boredom caused me to look around my house and think of all kinds of fun things to do.

I mean, seriously, how many NCIS reruns can one possibly watch before the need to buy a new washer arises – or before you realize that you want new windows. Or a new roof. Or a new anything that will keep me from staring at the same Continue reading →

The race riots of the sixties were my coming of age story. For the first time, a lot of us were exposed to a level of racism we hadn’t know existed anymore in our wonderful, post-World War II America. My parents had mentioned the prejudice their parents endured when they immigrated from Italy at the turn of the 20^th century. But aside from what I learned in school about the Civil War, I knew nothing. I mean really nothing about the issues facing African Americans in America.

The closest I ever came to a conversation with my parents on Continue reading →

This piece will appear in the ADN online on Friday and then in the Sunday paper. It took me a long time to write it. Not long in that I sat at my computer for hours, but long in that it has taken me this long to admit I was raped in my marriage and I should not hold the shame for that. My ex-husband should.

Here is the memory that sticks most in my mind. My husband is kneeling on me with a barbell on my neck and he’s screaming he’s going to kill me. Then he forces me Continue reading →

Seems the longer I’m stuck at home doing nothing, the less desire I have to get up and do anything. Continue reading →

Every time I see those tiny-penised, testosterone lacking, armed idiots on the streets carrying the flags of two, not one but two, defeated nations, while the Orange Blob calls them fine people, I can’t help but think again…

I HOPE THEY ALL GO TO ORANGE BLOB’S FIRST RALLY, GET INFECTED WITH COVID 19 AND DIE.

And that includes the Orange Blob.

Continue reading →

I believe that in life we should all have goals. In youth my goals were lofty. I was going to be the first Miss America of Italian descent who also won a Nobel Peace prize and I would do it all while married to Little Joe Cartwright.

My goals have somewhat subsided since then. I now aim to remember the day of the week and the month that week is in. I aim to change my underwear every day and my sweatshirt and pants as least once every week. Ok, once every two weeks assuming nothing of great note or Continue reading →