Corner Pocket
Originally posted on The Nice Thing About Strangers:
It doesn’t seem fair to give too many details, since she didn’t know she’d be on the record. She challenged my friend…
Because I am Learning
The clerks at the market wear the same black polo shirts, the same nametags, the same gazes up from where they sit to where customers stand. When it is my … Continue reading
Notes from Home
I’m watching an older man in a patterned shirt–some sort of Earth-toned hexagons–eating his dinner with one hand while holding his cell phone in the other. As I’m taking notes … Continue reading
Screening
Originally posted on The Nice Thing About Strangers:
Emir, one of the men working at security, introduces himself. Polite, friendly, grinning and testing his English. Austrian airport security seems a…
The Best Souvenirs are the People You’ll Meet
The girl brought it out in truth as she might have brought a huge confession, something she admitted herself shy about and that would seem to show her as frivolous; … Continue reading
Not Bad
It is a blessing to live across the street from a market with such lovely fruits and vegetables. They are a feast for the eyes. Plus, it’s handy since there … Continue reading
My Interview with Karma
I guess the headline sounds like something bad showed up at my door (or something good!). 🙂 The interviewer was my former college roommate Karma Chavez, though we didn’t tell … Continue reading
Her Point of View
The woman totes water in heavy blue jugs. In the shade, the spot is cool–in the sun, the spot is temperate. Winter and summer must be severe, but October is … Continue reading
Airport Starbucks: No, I am not an Inspector
The people at Starbucks always spell my name Peych (or Peç), so I answer to it. At the Ataturk airport Starbucks, a barista with very dark, but well-groomed eyebrows calls, … Continue reading
Part II of the Interview with Rachael Hanel
Do people read blogs over Christmas? 🙂 I had a long, but peaceful trip home on Monday. I’m enjoying time with family and friends. Fewer strangers for the Holidays, and … Continue reading
Roll With It
It’s a long line at the grocery store on a Friday afternoon and everyone is staring into space, sighing, or frowning–even yours truly. I always get a basket rather than … Continue reading
Interview with Rachael Hanel
The awesome and prolific Rachael Hanel, author of We’ll Be the Last Ones to Let You Down: Memoir of a Gravedigger’s Daughter, interviewed me for her blog this week. It … Continue reading
First to the Top
They are brothers, this is clear. The eyes, the posture, the low chuckle as they part ways. One brother boards the 16 bus. This brother wears a navy coat, a … Continue reading
Budapest Bakery
In the bakery in Budapest, I have to rely on my “have mercy on me” skills. Even when I try to read the tags next to the pastry of my … Continue reading
My Book
So, I wrote a book. I am so grateful for my blog readers who have given me a lot of encouragement in my writing. I’m so fortunate to be a … Continue reading
Solo Flight
The little girl stands on the porch of the family business and talks to herself. She’s in the middle of a fascinating one-way conversation. She waves an imaginary friend over … Continue reading
Write Little Things Which You Think Are True
The artist is learning a special language in which to reveal truth. If you write, write from the heart, yet carefully, objectively. Never pose. Write little things which you think … Continue reading
Helpful
When I get to 12D and place my bag in the carry-on space, a woman in her seventies is standing at 12B holding up her boarding pass for me to … Continue reading
Taxi Tidy
The man with distinguished gray hair wears tan loafers, navy slacks, a powder blue dress shirt under a brown vest. He looks dashing, and he’s sweeping. He clears cigarette butts, … Continue reading
Here You Are!
I understand a translation of “Buyurun,” the exclamation of the two young boys, is “Here you are!” They are calling it out, toting two huge bunches of flowers that they … Continue reading
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