Nearly four years ago, Laura Dern's mother, Diane Ladd, was diagnosed with lung disease. Ladd, who is also an actor, thought she had six months left to live — but the doctor said taking walks might ...

My cat, Harriet, is curled up on the TV console when I walk into the living room. She blinks at me, slowly. Cats blinking at you is supposed to be a sign of affection. I blink back. “Look at you on ...