Blameless
Passing the produce market, a woman in a pink coat walks alongside her preschool child, and calls over her shoulder to her own mother who has stopped at the tempting … Continue reading
So when you’re out to dinner and…
As their parents sat at the table and talked, the children kept running around, hiding underneath and shouting at one another. These people’s happiness pleased Mevlut. Human beings were made … Continue reading
Street Charades
The man is in a beret and a sweater-jacket with a high neck and a vaguely American Southwest pattern. It gets my attention because I’m in Budapest, Hungary, quite a … Continue reading
Your Easter Dresses, Love Grandma.
Originally posted on The Nice Thing About Strangers:
Grandma is buying the girls a pair of Easter dresses–the fluffier the better. Her two granddaughters stand close and grin. They love…
To Sit and To Read
It’s making an elderly woman nuts that I won’t sit in the S-Bahn train to the Vienna airport. She nodded to the seat across from her. She recommended it, offered … Continue reading
The Day Tour
The family traveled from San Diego to New York, New York to Istanbul, Istanbul to Kayseri, and then collapsed into a hotel room for only few hours before heading out … Continue reading
Where the Heart Is
Someone has let loose a dozen small red, glittering hearts made of some sort of plastic sheeting. They might be an accompaniment to a St. Valentine’s Day package, but I’m … Continue reading
Like a Shepherd
The little boy with blue-framed glasses rushes to the train with his mother. Then he turns in a shock as he boards. His father is not behind him. He’s looking … Continue reading
God Bless Darlene! :)
I’m excited to share an interview I did with blogger, adventurer, and all around lovely person, Darlene. 🙂 She asked me some questions about my book, my travels, and my … Continue reading
Be Nice To Yourself (As Well)
It’s more like: if you can think of times in your life that you’ve treated people with extraordinary decency and love, and pure uninterested concern, just because they were valuable … Continue reading
Boys with Books
Seven junior high school boys are on a sort of field trip by bus. They chat in small groups, look over my shoulder at my notebook, annoy an old man … Continue reading
A Puzzle
A young man with a shark-tooth necklace, a skateboard, and a black wrist band sits in the Metro and stares into space. One stop later, he reaches into his backpack, … Continue reading
Still Grinning
Sorry, I’m traveling today, but I am still beaming from a comment by a reader, 8 year-old Max. While I appreciate all of my readers, I must admit, every time … Continue reading
Cat Confidantes
He’s rustling a sack as he walks, as he slows his pace. He begins whispering to the gathering crowd and smiling. He has come to pay his respects to the … Continue reading
From Strangers to Friends
As many of you know, I published a collection of my very-short creative non-fiction stories in the winter. I’d always wanted to write a book, ever since the stories that … Continue reading
Dad and Dog Wait for the Daughter
Dad and Dog wait for the Daughter’s school bus. Dad has one hand on his hip and the other holding the leash. Dad stands, the dog sits. They glance down … Continue reading
Strangers on a Shuttle
They are meeting for the first time this morning, but no one in the airport shuttle can believe it. He is tall with brown eyes and a compassionate smile. She has green eyes … Continue reading
Melt. –a guest post by Desiree Gaul
I am so excited to share this lovely tale. Enjoy this guest post from my friend and former student, Desiree Gaul. * The evening mist under the streetlamp highlights her … Continue reading
Wrinkles
The following was a new story for my book (Oh, if you want a snag a copy or send one to a friend, you can order it here at Amazon.) … Continue reading
How They Happen to Love Each Other
During takeoff, a hand appears behind the head of the man in front of me. The angle seems odd. I can’t sort out how he could bend his arm to … Continue reading
The Nice Thing About Strangers 