standing still

She stares at a bright sliver of green on the other side of the narrow forest opening. It is a lure beckoning through trees that loom around her like a formation of hovering mothers and nervous lovers pressing in on her, like uptight seaweed filtering out the sun. She is a hungry fish trying to … Continue reading standing still →

death is a free float through pink marbled-paper tunnels

I used to have horrible nightmares on a regular basis. The kind that caused my spouse to wake up because I was screaming. My dreams were full of monsters, demons, and weapon-wielding criminals intent on killing me, if not utterly destroying everything that made me 'me'. I was intent on not letting that happen. Besides, … Continue reading death is a free float through pink marbled-paper tunnels →

dad’s education as he saw it

Today is Father's Day in the States. My dad says the last time he checked, every day was father's day. He remembers when Hallmark created this fake holiday to sell more cards and thought it was just as useless now as it was then. I agree with him on the commercial aspect but I do … Continue reading dad’s education as he saw it →

two atypical saturday outings

Normally my husband and I spend Saturday mornings at the coffeehouse writing and reading. The rest of the day, we typically work on house projects or hang out with friends. Today we did none of those things. We started the day by driving more than an hour west of home to hike though rolling woodlands … Continue reading two atypical saturday outings →

thoughts on haruf’s plainsong

Last month, I finally got around to reading Kent Haruf's novel, Plainsong. I purchased it a few years ago because it was a finalist for the National Book Award. Reading the synopsis, I wondered how so many story threads would weave together to create something like a Gregorian chant. It looked like a quiet novel … Continue reading thoughts on haruf’s plainsong →

i never said most of the things i said

"I never said most of the things I said." -Yogi Berra When I feel brave enough and aware enough, I wonder how much of "me" is really me and not the fabrication of me that I cobbled together. It's a fabrication built of social protocol, coping mechanisms, and family history, and it tends to run … Continue reading i never said most of the things i said →

the space i write

I dream of being that person working in zen-like surroundings with nary a hair out of place waiting to be photographed in all her perfection. But that person is not me. I write in chaos. The desk where I normally work at home is covered with books, supplies, fabric and patterns, snacks, and paper. Lots … Continue reading the space i write →

a few of my favorite things

For today's blog-learnin' exercise, I present a 10-count list of things I like. Disclosure: I really have trouble with this sort of thing. The voice in the back of my head screams, "who gives a shit what you like!" Having had the temerity to type that, it's complaining that I shouldn't reveal its existence, as … Continue reading a few of my favorite things →

why i write

I write because I have to. When I miss a day of writing, I feel the grumblings deep within, banging and clanking like the bowels of an old ship retracting its anchor. I become unmoored and drift aimlessly with only the barest of conscious awareness of the world around me. The world and I become … Continue reading why i write →