I face a conundrum. It’s that old saying about taking life’s travails and making lemonade. Why? Lemons are bitter. Add water and sugar – the result is still bitter. So there you are alone with your problems trying to make something.

My solution: go out for ice cream. You’ll feel better.

Eileen McIntyre is a writer from Northern California working on her first mainstream fiction novel. One of her essays will be published in an anthology by the end of the year.