marriage: Philadelphia Metropolis

He's Baaack!

Now comes Rick Santorum's 15 minutes in the limelight. His showing in Iowa this week guarantees that.  With little money and no organization to speak of, the former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania placed second in the Iowa caucuses, just eight... (Comments)

My Asian-American Life

By O.K. Pham» "I don't think of you as Vietnamese anymore-- just as my wife." My husband Shaun stated as he leaned back in his chair, after a thoughtful sip of his Saison. We were savoring a backyard lunch together on one of those perfect Saturday afternoons in late June. I stared at him across the table where a dwindling platter of steamed corn and grilled London broil sat.The kids had already run off after devouring their lunch, treating us to the luxury of an uninterrupted conversation. My gaze fell from my husband's red hair to his grayish blue eyes, before finding the smile that had been the prelude to our many dialogues. (Comments)

Black Exodus: Part One

The number of middle class blacks in Philadelphia has declined significantly in the last 10 years, but the drop cannot be attributed solely to the bad economy. A large number of blacks have lost middle-class status because of layoffs and the turbulent job market. But, thousands of African Americans haven't fallen; they have fled. A new series of stories explores the phenomenon of black flight from the city to the suburbs. Part One provides explains what is up and why. We call the series Black Exodus. (Comments)

My Pizza, My Life

By S. Trinh» My boss is sad today. He's been chain smoking since I got here. K told me that he's gone through a couple packs already; I'm tempted to follow in his footsteps. It would be easy to take a pack of cigarettes and walk outside, not come back. But the phone rings, and I am pulled away from my daydreaming at the window, and I answer it. I talk, ask questions. The person on the line answers. It's a simple system, really, but it's the only part of my job that I don't quite like. I hang up, hit a few buttons on the computer, and go to the walk-in freezer. I work at a pizza joint. It's typical of me, a student in college, working to pay off whatever I can with what I can do. But the job here is more than just a way to pay bills and have some extra spending money, it's so much more. (Comments)

No Heaven, No Hell

By O.K. Pham» "Your children are lovely," the old stranger lady remarked at a community festival we attended last fall, her compliment a mere preface to this next question, "Do you take them to church?" Sensing an unsolicited sermon on the horizon, I gathered my brood for a swift but polite retreat: "No, but it's nice meeting you." Her unwelcome insistence beckoned as we meandered through the crowd, "It's not too late to teach the kids about our Savior!" For most of my adult life I've stayed clear of religious conversations, reluctant to debate a subject matter that I think is too personal. My own parents' marriage was compromised (Comments)