Essays and Stories — Mary McDonald

Beauty Mark

When I was in nursery school, I had a friend who had beauty marks. I had moles.

growing upMary McDonaldDecember 6, 2021self acceptance, growing up

An Ode to Sweatin' to the Oldies 3

A love letter to Richard Simmons’ finest contribution to the world of aerobic work out tapes.

My Mother's Writing

Not too perfect, not too messy, not trying to be anything other than what it is. The type of writing a daughter will attempt to emulate for the rest of her life.

familyMary McDonaldMay 10, 2020mom, family, mothers day, writing

Truth or Dare

Instead of a girls-only-book-reading utopia, boys were invited. Bad boys were invited and shit was going DOWN.

growing upMary McDonaldOctober 1, 2019growing up, anxiety, truth or dare, childhood, shy kid, shyness, bravery, bedtime barbie

Jackie

Sometime in 2014 I shot off a Facebook message that basically read “You wanna grab a coffee and like, be friends and shit?”

friendsMary McDonaldSeptember 5, 2019friends, friendship, long distance

30

Maybe we all just kind of bumble along until we die and then you’re just gone and you’re like “that was weird.”

growing upMary McDonaldAugust 20, 2019growing up, getting older, aging, turning 30, 30th birthday

I've Spent So Much Time Not Writing

When I was young, I was a writer.

Photo by Naomi Peters

growing upMary McDonaldJuly 2, 2019writing, growing up, comedy, stand up, copywriting, funny, writers block, writer's block

Breaking Up and Breaking Bad

I went through a break up several years ago. It was pretty bad. We lived together and the great thing about breaking up with someone you live with is that you both live there! Nobody leaves. You just sit. With your sadness. And the person who directly caused it.

loveMary McDonaldMay 16, 2019love, break ups, breaking up, breaking bad

Confessions of an 8-year-old Financial Planner

When I was a kid, my family didn’t have much money. We always got by and I never went hungry but we did live in an unfinished garage for 12 years.