Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
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.
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.
Feeling left out by friends or coworkers can hit hard, especially when you’re already battling chronic illness or the daily grind of writing your first novel. Here’s how to deal with being excluded—without wrecking your peace or your relationships.
If you live with heart failure, chronic illness, or just have a low tolerance for loud nonsense, you’re not alone in hating the Fourth of July fireworks. Here’s a sarcastic take from a private chef with sarcoidosis who would gladly trade in the “bombs bursting in air” for a drone show and a quiet night.
Living with sarcoidosis can feel like starring in a long-running medical sitcom where the plot twists pop up at the most inconvenient times, including when you’re on vacation trying to rest. Without giving too much away, let’s just say my quiet beach getaway took an unexpected turn—and you’ll have to read the full post to see how a simple trip turned into something far stranger.
Tate Basildon 