The Reason to Rush
Two pretty young women are walking down the street, close in pace, but not together. A blonde in shorts my-mother-would-never-have-let-me-leave-the-house-wearing is staring down at her phone. The other, more modestly … Continue reading
Spiraling in Turkish
Last summer, living in Izmir, Turkey, I started trying to learn Hungarian. I spoke Turkish on errands, English in my work, and Hungarian in the two hours of lessons I … Continue reading
Kerouac’s Ukulele
A boy of about seven or eight waits for his Mom, who is caught in a conversation with a friend in the street. The boy wears a ukulele on a … Continue reading
So Let’s Try…
There’s an older man who works at the parking lot of a bank near my apartment. He wears a polo shirt that declares he is Security. He has a lanyard. … Continue reading
The Clues
My neighbors in the plane watch a television show together on the tiny screen in front of her seat. She sits straight on, often smiling over as he cranes his … Continue reading
On Peppers and Humility
A few weeks ago in a Turkish market, I wanted to ask if the peppers were spicy, but I apparently asked if the peppers would punch/injure me. The girl laughed … Continue reading
The Humbling Scenes: Part II
Originally posted on The Nice Thing About Strangers:
So I knew I couldn’t walk to my Turkish class, and would need another plan. I stared at a map and felt some…
The Humbling Scenes: Part I
Originally posted on The Nice Thing About Strangers:
If you have a good sense of direction, please never forget that this is a gift. Like those who can sleep in…
The Disobedient
Surely there’s a lesson about human beings in relation to God when every visitor to the Virgin Mary’s House ignores the plentiful signs not to take photos. They are warned outside … Continue reading
The Welcome Home Scene
He’s somewhere in early 20s and exceptionally tall. He’s clean shaven and tan in his white button-up shirt. Back in the airplane, he ate a sandwich, sat restlessly in his … Continue reading
Photo Op
The old man wears a straw hat shaped like a cowboy hat. It has something like a badge at the front. He wears sunglasses that are a cross between aviators … Continue reading
Still Friendly After All These Years
The elderly woman is perfectly coordinated–a pink dress, a pale blue sweater, a pink and blue necklace, blue eyes, gray hair to her chin. Her daughter is her accessory, tucked … Continue reading
The Urge to Be Someplace Else
“When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me … Continue reading
Waiting on the 13A
A woman with a long, swinging skirt walks with two heaps of lettuce across her arm as though she’s carrying bouquets of flowers, like a runner-up beauty queen making off with the … Continue reading
To Be Grateful
I’m waiting in line for three ticket machines in the metro station. Of course, I get to mine, and it doesn’t take cash. Or cards. So I turn, tugging my … Continue reading
Escalator Kissing
The man and woman have grey hair and matching gold necklaces. They hold hands. People rarely walk down the escalator stairs in this Budapest metro station, as the angle is … Continue reading
The Hunger
There is no great difference in reality between one country and another, because it is always people you meet everywhere. They may look different or be dressed differently, they may … Continue reading
So So Beautiful
The girl sits upright in her stroller. Mom pushes and chats with her, but the little girl doesn’t lean back and relax. She’s watching the crowds coming and going in … Continue reading
Beauty (On the Record)
Two boys of perhaps ten or eleven are simultaneously struck by a vision. They turn into elderly men, gasping, bringing their upturned fingers together in front of their faces like … Continue reading
The View from Here
The little boy sits on a gargantuan chair. It is a huge display to show the craftsmanship of the maker. The chair presides over the airport food court. Parents have … Continue reading
