A few years ago I read a poignant personal essay in Exponent II’s special issue, “Being Single in a Married Church.” The author, a single LDS woman, wrote candidly about the challenges of single life: the intrusive comments made by others, the indignities that sometimes came from “playing the field,” the uncertainty and loneliness that often crept into her heart. Her tone was not whiny or bitter, just honest about the “behind the scenes” difficulties of single life.
Shearing
By Allyson Smith
IN THE PHOTO I am leaning in stiffly, artificially, with an exaggerated smile. The man at my side is not leaning back. Although the couch is crowded with people, there is a visible gap between my grandfather and me—narrow, maybe, but deep. When I first pulled the picture out of the envelope, the only thing I …