The winter holiday season can be difficult for some. Whether it’s the first year without a certain loved one, or you simply need a break from the festive hustle and bustle, we’ve made this collection just for you.
From humorous writings to pieces honoring those who are no longer with us, rest while reading these Baltimore Fishbowl columns and personal essays published in 2024.
Columnist Rafael Alvarez began the year with a touching tribute to his mother, Gloria Jones Alvarez, who passed away at the end of 2023. With her sharp tongue and kind heart, “Glo” was a force to be reckoned with — if anyone would dare.
Then, in December of this year, Rafael lost his former mother-in-law, Jean Milito Rudacille. “Jean Rudacille took our hearts with her,” he wrote.
Read about the two matriarchs in these pieces.
When outsiders visit
Sometimes the best way to see your own city is through the eyes of a newcomer. That’s what columnist Jalynn Harris did when her friend G came to visit. Together they navigated the Baltimore subway system and roadway near-misses, and learned how the city becomes part of us.
Welcome to the Land of Oz, aka Ozempic, Where Weight Loss Dreams Come True
Columnist Marion Winik detailed her weight loss journey with Ozempic, from finding a doctor in D.C. to attending her son’s wedding. Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
A collapse, and tears in the eyes of families who worked on the water
“When the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in the Patapsco River after being hit by a container ship, those of us who grew up in waterfront families thought of our fathers,” wrote Rafael Alvarez.
Just shy of the Super Bowl, the Ravens blew their best chance at a championship in a decade. Where do they go from here?
In the wake of the Baltimore Ravens’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this year, putting Baltimore out of contention for Super Bowl LVIII, sports columnist Karuga Koinange dissected what went wrong and where the team goes from here. With Super Bowl LIX less than two months away, will the Ravens regain the ground they need to take it all the way?
The Last Place I Saw Them
Columnist Marion Winik penned an abecedarian, with 26 sections titled in alphabetical order, as a tribute to her family. From her great-grandfather’s journey from Lithuania, to memories at their house on Dwight Drive and more, enjoy snapshots from the Winik family’s collective story.
No outfit is complete without cat hair.
Jalynn Harris writes about their family’s misadventures with pets, their own fears and allergies of cats, and the cricket-chirping feline friend who helped change things around.
Leaving Baltimore? Not an option
Leaving Baltimore is not an option for columnist Rafael Alvarez, even following the death of his parents. He explains why the city continues to have a hold on him — and the many others who call Baltimore home.
The Bill W. Bunch: When Alcoholism Runs in the Family
Author Mary C. “grew up in an alcoholic household, vowing to be different, but found myself in my own struggle with addiction.” Read her harrowing yet truly hopeful story after a decade of sobriety.
Credit: Macon Street Books
Peter Angelos and the open checkbook few knew about
Orioles owner Peter Angelos quietly helped those who came to him in need, and thought big about solutions. Angelos, the longtime owner of the Baltimore Orioles, died March 23 at age 94.
How to Find Love
For Valentine’s Day this year, columnist Jalynn Harris walked through seven steps of how to find love, including familial, romantic, and platonic love.
Read other Baltimore Fishbowl columns here.
