Personal Tragedy and Taking Time Off

Three weeks ago, I sent out an email announcing a gang of new CNN assignments I was excited about. I hit send, and headed out for a beautiful hike with my friend and fellow writer, Jacqueline Kehoe. Later that day, my little brother’s body was found in his apartment. He was 36.

As you can imagine, I am devastated and I’m so grateful that I have an amazing sister to help me plan the funeral. My brother struggled with a heroine addiction for over a decade but he had been clean for 14 months and we were extraordinarily proud of him. He was making all the right choices but it wasn’t enough. His arteries were clogged, his heart was enlarged, and the medical examiner says he likely died of a heart attack, which is how my father died when he was 39.

I stayed with my family in Wisconsin for two weeks before flying back to New York with my mom so she could attend the first annual Parkinson’s charity bike ride that I organzied. Thank you to those of you that donated prizes. We raised nearly $2,000.

Tomorrow, I fly back to Milwaukee for my brother’s funeral this weekend, where I’ll be until shortly before I go to Slovenia in early May.

My brother-in-law is undocumented and we just learned that he has to go back to Mexico next week to petition to return legally. He could be there for weeks, months, or years. As such, I plan to spend a lot of time in Wisconsin in the coming months, caring for my mom and helping my sister with the kids.

Why am I sharing all this? Because this is real life. And because I can’t deal with press releases and PR pitches right now. I’m working with a handful of editors at CNN, Forbes, and World Nomads to get low-stress assignments that I am comfortable working, mostly reviews about products I already own and articles about destinations I’ve already visited. I don’t envision having the capacity to send out pitch calls or review the hundreds of pitches I normally receive every week for at least a few months. I also asked several of my editors to reassign some of the pieces I hadn’t started yet. Who cares about the best binoculars for birdwatching when your brother is dead?

I have a lot of insider tips, pitch guidelines, and strategy emails already written for my paid subscribers so I’ll resume sending those out soon. April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, so, like last year, I had also planned to offer free paid membership to anyone that donates over $50 to Parkinson’s charities (or to my Venmo to forward on), so I hope to get that email out this week as well.

Thank you for understanding.

Cassandra

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RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Thanks to those of you that helped me source products and quotes for these pieces. I’ve had a lot of roundups and reviews publish recently and I don’t have the capacity to send personal updates but your brand or destination may be included below:

Travel + Leisure: 14 Summer Essentials for Sri Lanka

CNN Outdoors: Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Review: Smart, Fun, and Borderline Addictive

Sierra Club: How Local Parks and Nature Centers are Putting Accessibility Front and Center

AARP: Compression Socks Can Be a Lifesaver For Those Who Spend A Lot Of Time Sitting

CNN Travel: Under $25 Scores: Get Your Beauty Sleep With This Matador Blackout Sleep Mask

CNN Outdoors: Some of the Best Hiking Shoes Out There Just Got Better: The Altra Lone Peak 8

CNN Travel: This HydroFlask Bottle is Insulated, Ultralight and Perfect for Travel

Forbes Gear: Sleep Like a Baby in the Backcountry with the Best Camping Pillows

Business Insider: The Most Unique National Parks

National Geographic: 2024 Will Be Huge for Astrotourism - Here’s How to Plan Your Trip

Wall Street Journal: 12 Apps We Can’t Stop Using, For Better or Worse (I wrote Bird Buddy)

CNN: Away’s new Trunk suitcase is large in-charge and perfect for all sorts of adventures

Forbes Gear (Update): The Very Best Bike Lights That Improve Visibility Day or Night

Forbes Gear (Update): The Best Trekking Poles to Support Walkers, Hikers, and Backpackers

Forbes: The 7 Best Bike Helmets to Protect Your Head and Ride in Total Comfort

Tom’s Guide: Blendtec Total Blender Classic Review

Midwest Living: The Best Vacations for Disabled Adults in the Midwest

CNN: From Urban Streets to Jungle Retreats, the Matador GlobeRider45 Handles it All

CNN: Under $25 Scores: These window decals help prevent birds from flying into glass

Hilton: The top 5 most romantic cities in the world

AARP: How Caregivers Can Share Responsibilities From Afar

Forbes (Gear): The Best Manual Treadmills That Deliver a Natural Running Experience

CNN: How to Stop Birds From Flying into Your Windows, According to Experts

Wall Street Journal: These Weird-Looking Skis Are Easy to Use - And Fit in a Backpack

CNN: Under $50 Scores: The UnWipe will change the way you use the toilet

CNN: The Almond Cow Review: Eliminate Cartons and Make Milk in Minutes

Insider: How to Visit National Parks for Free - Or Really Cheap - in 2024

CNN: These eco-friendly reusable silicone lids easily store leftovers

Travel + Leisure: The 15 Cutest and Comfiest Walking Shoes for Travel at Amazon Right Now

Forbes Gear: The 5 Best Winter Hiking Boots to Keep Your Feet Warm and Dry

Articles from 2023

Here’s a sampling of what I wrote in 2023, which I think gives you a good idea of the sort of topics I cover for various outlets.

AARP: What I Learned from My Mom’s Move From Hospital to Rehab

Wall Street Journal: How to Pack an Entire, Comfortable Campsite Into a Backpack

The Daily Beast: How TikTok Is Making This Once “Dangerous” Country a Tourist Hotspot

Thrillist: This National Park Floods Every Winter and That’s Precisely Why You Should Visit

National Geographic: It’s Leaf Peeping Season: Avoid the Crowds on These Scenic Drives

Going.com: Cairo Guide: The North African Capital Home to King Tut’s Treasures

Travel + Leisure: I Travel With My Mom Who Uses a Wheelchair — Here Are 13 Helpful Items We Always Pack to Make Trips Smoother

Reader’s Digest:  Where to See the Northern Lights for the Experience of a Lifetime

World Nomads: The Best Cities to Visit with Great Public Transport

CNN: The 23 Best Pieces of Waterproof Hiking Gear, According to Guides

Insider: I’ve Been to All 50 States - These are the Most Underrated

Sierra Club: Leaf Peeping on Two Wheels - Where Bike Lovers Should Head for Fabulous Fall Foliage

Lonely Planet: 12 Things Locals Know About Visiting New York State

AAA Traveler Worldwise (print): The Allure of French Polynesia

Hilton Hotels: Five fun-filled destinations for the perfect Labor Day weekend getaway

TimeOut: The 30 Most Beautiful Places in the World (I wrote the Scotland section)

Reviewed/USA Today: OXO Pop Containers are Great for Arthritic Hands

Forbes (Gear): Best Cold-Weather Cycling Gear

Forbes (Fashion): The Best Sports Bras for Women with Large Breasts

Forbes (Travel): The Best Packing Cubes to Keep You Organized on Your Next Trip

Tom’s Guide: The Best Grill Brushes in 2023 – Tested and Rated

AAA Traveler Worldwise (print): All in the Family - An Accessible Family Trip to Indianapolis

Living Cozy: At Home with Homebody’s Sectional Recliner Sofa