Shedding and the Herd
October, cemetery paths, the world is losing its hair and its teeth, which is just another way of saying that yellow leaves kept falling from the trees. -Günter Grass. The … Continue reading
Wave To Mama
A mother shuffles away from the school bus stop after her daughter has boarded. She moves like it is exceptionally early in the morning, though the sun is up and … Continue reading
The Task Bandit
The little old man wears a beige outdoor jacket, adorned with many pockets, loops, toggles. He counts his aspirins in a small plastic bag, takes off his shoes, pulls on … Continue reading
Love Grows Here
My mother’s flower gardens in the fall. Her father was a farmer and often raised fields of flowers for seeds. She grows flowers to give (I frequently see her cutting … Continue reading
Sit. Create. Become.
Someone once asked Somerset Maugham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck by inspiration. “I write only when inspiration strikes,” he replied. “Fortunately it strikes every morning … Continue reading
Peace. Or The Days When You Could Fit Your Knees Into Your Shirt.
They’re early for Mass, the Dad and his tiny son. The boy totes a plush Luigi from Super Mario Brothers. He wears black and neon yellow shoes that light up … Continue reading
Originally posted on The Nice Thing About Strangers:
She parks in the first spot outside Arby’s, and he waits patiently in the passenger side, readying his oxygen tank as she…
Saturday-Ja-Vu: Shimmy in the Suburbs
Heading home, I began to worry that I might run out of stories–or that my stories may not be as interesting when they all took place in English. I stocked … Continue reading
You Can Tell Me
Yes, it’s true, I was speaking to myself, but don’t we all? We all have a second person buried inside us, a dear friend to whom we whisper to our … Continue reading
Inspire Curiosity
Men who sell simits–a bagel-pretzel coated in toasted sesame seeds–are almost as ubiquitous in Istanbul as ankle-breakable holes in the sidewalk. Since I often took the same streets, I often … Continue reading
Perhaps Today is a Good Day To Begin (Again).
I know thousands of people who are waiting for their lives to slow down so they can become an artist. Your life is not going to slow down probably until … Continue reading
Saturday-Ja-Vu: The Bus Boys
Two boys on a bus that you may have missed, or may enjoy re-visiting. Have a nice weekend! A Seat of One’s Own
Postcard for Addyson #1
Dear Addy, The two postcards I sent from Turkey took about 6 weeks to reach you. So I thought I’d send an update that would show up in Colorado before … Continue reading
The Joy of Forgetting
This morning I took my notebook out for a date at the park. We had a delightful time. I ran a pen dry. While taking notes on what I’ve seen … Continue reading
Free.
One minute I am straining every nerve to be the sort of person I was expected to be and shaking in my boots for fear I would fail–and the next … Continue reading
Palms
Two small boys track the line of workers trimming the palm trees. The men in green jumpsuits stare up at the man-lift. The boys nod at each other with tight-lipped smiles … Continue reading
Macho Maço Man
He struts wide, pacing to both sides of the sidewalk as he walks. He thrusts his arms out, adjusting his button-up shirt on his frame, propelling himself forward with a … Continue reading
I Want To Tell You Something Beautiful.
After a few weeks practicing my Turkish with various strangers, I’m pleased with my progress–but overwhelmed by how much I still have to learn. Smiling helps. Smiling helps me make … Continue reading
A Warning for the End of the Wanderlust
I would become a respectable person. I left the university, trained for my father’s profession, went abroad to get a better grasp of things, then went home and worked hard … Continue reading
To Pest From Buda L.O.V.E.
Monday I’ll begin a few weeks of putting myself at the mercy of strangers in Turkey as I try to learn their remarkable language. This will most certainly lead to … Continue reading
The Nice Thing About Strangers 