http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb RSS Feed for Inq Col Dan Gottlieb en-us Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:54:20 GMT http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/20080526_Inside_Out__Dark_news_cannot_dim_her_brilliant_smile.html I first met Andrea Collins Smith in August when she was a guest on my radio show. This 36-year-old, married mother of six had tattoos up and down both arms, sparkling eyes, and the happiest smile I have ever seen. She also had a turban on her head, part of the uniform of a woman taking chemotherapy. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/20080317_Inside_Out__Midlife_depression__Not_unusual_or_incurable.html Marge was 48 years old when she came to my office last year complaining of depression. She said her marriage was "comfortable, but without passion." Her teenage children were doing well, but she was worried about paying tuition when the time cam http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/20070122_Inside_Out___Forgiveness_is_hard_but_it_lets_you_heal.html Joyce was abused by her father when she was 12 years old. She'd hated him ever since. When I met her last year, she was 50 years old and had a long history of difficult relationships with men, depression and overall inability to enjoy life. She blamed most of her problems on her father. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/LettersToSam.html http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/7712892.html http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/Inside_Out___HARD-EARNED_WISDOM__HEARTFELT_WISHES_TO_BRAND-NEW_GRANDSON.html Dear Sam, As your only living grandfather, I want to welcome you into this life. Always remember that you are the product of love and passion. This type of love is one of the many treasures life has to offer. Also remember that, despite its moments of pain and darkness, life is a gift and a blessing. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/Inside_Out___A_grandfather_s_fears_-_and_his_hopes.html Dear Sam, I last wrote you 27 months ago, on the event of your birth. In that letter, I shared some of the lessons I have learned and told you that life brings both joy and suffering. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/Inside_Out___Caring_for_special_needs_when_school_funds_get_tighter.html Dear Sam, This is the third column I have written to you. The first was three years ago on the event of your birth. Since that time, you have become one of the most beautiful and gentle children I have ever seen. The second column was last year when I explained that you had been diagnosed with "high functioning autism" and, although you are an incredibly happy little boy, you would need a good deal of special help. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/Inside_Out___Remember_with_every_loss__there_s_a_gain__too__June_21__2004_.html Dear Sam, Happy birthday! I have written you a letter each year since your birth; this is the fourth. The first was to welcome you into our family. The second was to tell you that when you were 20 months old we discovered that you had some autistic characteristics (pervasive developmental disorder). And last year I wrote about what your parents were going through trying to get you special education services through the school system. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_gottlieb/Inside_Out___When_life_throws_you_a_wicked_curve.html Dear Sam, You frequently ask why I'm in a wheelchair. When I tell you my legs don't work, you ask why.