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ALISON MCCOOK

ESSAYS

Some recent opinions and personal essays

FRIGGLES THE FROG

Biodesigned, July 2, 2021

As a young science journalist, my first reporting assignment consisted of finding out how to kill my pet frog. I’m not a sadist. Let me explain.

ABOUT 1 IN 5 PENNSYLVANIA ADULTS ARE CAREGIVERS, AND THEY’RE NOT OK

Philadelphia Inquirer, June 25, 2021

If you aren’t already a caregiver for a friend or family member who is disabled, elderly, or in poor health, you may be soon.

Essays: Work

Partying

THE CDC’S NEW MASK RULES PROMISE FREEDOM. BUT TO ME THEY MEAN FEAR.

Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 2021

I’m sorry to say, I don’t trust people to follow these guidelines safely.

Firehose

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTING IS IN DEEP TROUBLE

Philadelphia Inquirer, April 27, 2021

Simply put: It’s getting harder to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

Essays: Work

COVID STOLE MY DAD’S FINAL MONTHS

Philadelphia Inquirer, November 7, 2020

I am one of the many Americans trapped in a spiral of grief and rage over what our elderly loved ones have already lost because of the pandemic.

‘RAMONA AND HER MOTHER’ BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO MY MOM — NOW, MY DAUGHTER

Philadelphia Inquirer, March 28, 2021

Beverly Cleary's legacy will live on in readers like me.

Essays: Work

Family Trip

SPRING BREAK BROKE ME. AND FILLED ME WITH WHITE-HOT RAGE.

Scary Mommy, April 8, 2021

We are so close to the end of this, and every person who takes a laissez-faire approach to the pandemic is making it harder on the rest of us.

I AM ‘BONE-CRUSHINGLY TIRED’ AFTER A YEAR OF PANDEMIC PARENTING

Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 2021

Now we have to be public health experts, making (what feels like) potentially life or death decisions for our families.

Essays: Work

THE HOPE BROUGHT BY THE COVID VACCINE IS BITTERSWEET FOR THOSE OF US ALREADY GRIEVING

Philadelphia Inquirer, December 23, 2020

Had my father lived through the end of the year, he might have received the first batch of the vaccine.

Home Nurse Examining Patient

WE ARE FAILING TO PROTECT OUR MOST AT-RISK CITIZENS

Philadelphia Inquirer, January 28, 2021

On Dec. 17, the day before ER doctor Nashat Latib was supposed to get the COVID-19 vaccine, she tested positive for the virus.

Essays: Work

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