Special Features

It’s hard to beat the friendship of a loyal pet. Whether a big, old dog, or a spunky, young kitten, or some exotic species, a relationship with a beloved pet can be as deep and fulfilling as anything we can...

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the men and women who have died while in military service. To honor the memory of those who have served and sacrificed, we offer this collection of essays...

This week, we honor mothers everywhere—new mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, and mothers-in-law. The mother-child relationship is one of the most powerful and complex of relationships, and the following essayists have found that having a mother or being a mother...

Spring has sprung, and many gardeners have begun to plant seeds indoors in anticipation of the coming warmer days. For the essayists below, planting seeds—real or imagined—helps them look to a future harvest. The Simple Joys of Life We Are...