Blog – Page 11 – Tate Basildon

When Strangers Grab Your Phone: Realizing Just How Much of My Life Lives in This Glass Box

Ever had someone snatch your phone while you were just trying to show them a picture? Twice in one day, it hit me how much of my entire life—accounts, passwords, memories, even my brain power—now lives inside this little iPhone. As a chef with sarcoidosis and heart failure who once memorized entire bank account numbers and directions without GPS, I’m wrestling with the good, bad, and ridiculous sides of tech dependence.

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Why I Stopped Believing in Confession (And Why Being a Decent Human Shouldn’t Need a Reset Button)

Raised in a Catholic school from age five to sixteen, I once believed in the power of confession—kneeling in a booth, spilling sins, walking out with a “clean slate.” But over time, I realized many used it as a free pass to behave badly, gossip shamelessly, or worse. In this heartfelt reflection, a chef, debut novelist, and chronic illness warrior shares how religion, family expectations, and a gossiping “good Catholic” co-worker pushed him away from organized faith—and toward a simpler belief: just be a good human.

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The Stranger I Knew for 20 Years: A Long-Distance Friendship, One Missed Call, and a Final Goodbye

For nearly two decades, I had a deep, complicated friendship with someone I never met in person. We bonded over email, phone calls, cancer, cats, and clashing work styles. Then one day, I almost didn’t pick up the phone. This is a story about unexpected grief, long-distance connections, and why you should never let a call go to voicemail.

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Why I Celebrate the End of Summer: A Chronic Illness Chef’s Love Letter to Fall

Labor Day may feel bittersweet for most, but for me—a chef living with sarcoidosis and heart failure—it’s a relief. Summer’s heat, crowds, and entitlement give way to autumn’s crisp air, golden leaves, and the quiet comfort my body and spirit crave. Here’s why fall feels like freedom, and why I’ll always celebrate the end of summer.

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Keep Your Twigs and Your Verses: A Survival Guide to Unwanted Evangelism

Ever been spiritually ambushed by someone quoting scripture or pushing miracle twigs like they’re handing out eternal life samples at Costco? As a spiritual but not religious chef living with chronic illness, I’ve got some thoughts—and a few logs of my own. Here’s my no-pamphlet-needed take on boundaries, belief, and why passion doesn’t need to feel like a sales pitch.