Karen Mulvahill | Author

Karen Mulvahill is a writer living in northern Michigan.

Kudos to the Caregivers

March 9, 2024

Growing up, my younger sister and I alternated between being best friends and worst enemies—sometimes within a single hour. We fought the way two cats will, staring malevolently until one makes a move, then slapping at each other’s faces without really connecting until one tur... Read More >>

The Armchair Traveler

Jan. 13, 2024

My father led me by the hand into the dusty store lined with glass cases. The entire world was there, represented by postage stamps issued by every country in existence and some that were no more. A small man seated near the back looked up from his magnifying glass. “May I help you?... Read More >>

Pronouns 101

Nov. 25, 2023

My first assignment in an online graduate-level class was to provide information about my background, including my pronouns. I guess I’d had my head in the sand for a while, because I found this an odd request. Jane Doe, for example, listed she/her. John Doe listed he/h... Read More >>

The Seasons of Our Lives

Sept. 23, 2023

Poetry, literature, mythology, astrology, religion…all find metaphorical connections between the human lifespan and the seasons of nature. We are, after all, creatures of nature. Spring signifies beginnings, youth, and hope. In summer, we bloom; we discover love, vocation, and&mdas... Read More >>

The Opioid Crisis Isn’t Over

July 22, 2023

The current size of the opioid epidemic and its stratospheric growth make it likely that if you don’t know someone who suffers from addiction now, you will eventually.

The opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency by the CDC in 2017. Overdose deaths were five ti... Read More >>

Get U.P. and Get Out

May 20, 2023

“We’re located in the Upper Peninsula. Do you know where that is?” the man asked over the phone.

“Yes,” I responded, thinking Duh, but learning later that a lot of southeast Michigan residents have only the vaguest awareness of... Read More >>

Ageism Isn’t Funny

March 25, 2023

While sexist or racist remarks can get one fired these days, why does it still seem okay to make fun of old people? I find this especially strange because this is a demographic that every one of us—if lucky—will eventually occupy.

It came to my attention when not... Read More >>

Dry January

Jan. 28, 2023

My commitment to an alcohol-free January was challenged the night we hosted dinner and friends brought a special bottle of red to accompany the bison lasagna. Threatened the night I went to a Mexican restaurant and watched everyone else drinking margaritas. Truly tested the night I went o... Read More >>

Imagine There’s No Homelessness

Dec. 3, 2022

’Tis the season of magic and wonder and imagining. So imagine if you will…

It’s Christmas Eve and you’re not sitting in your favorite recliner with a frothy cup of eggnog. You’re sitting in a ragged tent under a bridge surrounded by cold, damp cement... Read More >>

Voting Matters

Oct. 22, 2022

With an election in the offing, it’s difficult to decide what to write about. Do I write that it’s unfair that the 39 million citizens in California have the same number of senators as the 580,000 in Wyoming? Do I write about the need to eliminate the Electoral College, which ... Read More >>

Sustainable Tourism

Sept. 10, 2022

Traditionally, Labor Day marks the end of summer, the time when children return to school and tourists go home and locals breathe a huge sigh of relief. Following a gloomy, sometimes grueling winter, those of us who live in northern Michigan year-round feel like we’ve earned our bea... Read More >>

Plant Native!

May 28, 2022

When I was a girl, I spent hours prying dandelions from our front yard. Our “grass” was actually a collection of various shades of green weeds. But when the bright yellow dandelions reared their perky heads, the green disappeared under their sunny umbrellas. My parents worked,... Read More >>