When I was a child, eternity filled every day. The world was a behemoth moving in slow motion. Into adulthood, each day slowed to the rhythm of the heart. At last, I was well-suited. But the heartbeat continues to slow as I age. Each day contains fewer beats, some contain none, and the world appears … Continue reading time’s heartbeat in a human life
Author: angela
wig transformation: intro
Over the next few days, I'll be transforming four wigs that members from a local dance troupe will wear when they perform folkloric dances from Uzbekistan. I'll share the progress on this blog. The wigs (below, left) have curly, synthetic hair that is almost waist length but still too short to fashion into six hip-length … Continue reading wig transformation: intro
farewell to my superhuman ability
It can be shocking to experience the changes an aging body goes through. I expected some of the changes. Vision, skin quality, physical fitness, and hormone fluctuations have declined as anticipated. What I didn't expect is that my stomach would be affected in any meaningful way. Or, at worse, that any changes would be so … Continue reading farewell to my superhuman ability
thoughts on vonnegut’s slaughterhouse-five
This is a long time coming. I read Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five over the weekend of Thanksgiving. The climactic setting, which is the namesake of the novel, and the time of year I read the novel made me think about the many turkeys pushed through slaughterhouses in order to meet the demands of American consumers hungry … Continue reading thoughts on vonnegut’s slaughterhouse-five
’tis the season for shopping
In keeping with the holiday season, my husband and I journeyed to a grand temple of consumerism, a nearly 1.5 million square foot outlet mall dedicated to the worship of stuff. It contains almost 190 stores, restaurants, and entertainment-related attractions. We parked in a section of the parking lot where few cars were. "This will … Continue reading ’tis the season for shopping
the hillbilly psoriasis kit
In the annual brain-busting question of what to gift my father for the holidays, my husband came up with the great idea of getting a phototherapy device. Dad suffers with psoriasis which is always relieved when he's able to bask in the sun like a lizard. Unfortunately, lizard basking days in Michigan can probably be counted … Continue reading the hillbilly psoriasis kit
did i kill my dance genie?
Ever since I let the dance genie out of the bottle, I didn't think it would ever be contained again. It never occurred to me that it might become maimed or even killed. I released the genie during my first year in college. Despite paralyzing shyness, my college friends egged me on until I "danced" … Continue reading did i kill my dance genie?
love over misophonia
It's shocking how much love you can feel for a pet. And how much they can teach you. Among the many things my little dogs have taught me is that I likely have misophonia which a strong reaction to sound, usually a specific sound. I'm guessing mouth noises comprise the bulk of sounds that drive … Continue reading love over misophonia
exploring the sea of regret on the good ship “mid-life crisis”
"Don't do anything you'll regret later." When I was 20, I couldn't imagine anything except living a bold life that was free of regret. I had unbounded faith in my ability to conquer whatever the world threw at me. I was in my forties when the summation of my life began to take shape and … Continue reading exploring the sea of regret on the good ship “mid-life crisis”
river rocks
Her fingers dug into her forearm, through skin as pliable and bloodless as modeling clay. What she removed was a smooth, oval disc of black stone. A river rock. It was one of dozens she had extracted since noon, all scattered around her. When she was done for the day, her skin without a mark, … Continue reading river rocks
life in jello 