exploring life and love with pictures and words
I sit shotgun as my cousin Moira zips down the tiny, narrow streets of Somana into Mandello. Windows down, the mountain air blows through the car. She taps her horn and waves to passing cars and neighbors who brave the walk. They shout Ciao, Buon Giorno! Their greetings trail off as we speed past. I... Continue Reading →
A small book on meditation, a list of handwritten recommendations from a private session with my yoga teacher, and a few cherished notes from friends are the small bits of inspiration I chose to bring along on this journey. I knew there would be times I would want to read them, refer to them, and... Continue Reading →
Tapping away on my keyboard, I reread phrases, type and delete words, and feel a range of emotions in the span of a few hours as I write. Sometimes my emotions are a reflection of the content itself. Other times they are conflicting expressions of belief and doubt in my ability as a writer. One... Continue Reading →
Not sure of the time, but I know I am calling it close. Racing down the station steps, the familiar rumble and long slow hiss of the arriving train have me picking up my pace. With seconds to spare, I politely push my way into the full car, Scusi, Scusi, secure a spot, and the... Continue Reading →
A light breeze blows through the kitchen of my uncles’ home, a little relief from the hot steam rising above the iron as I press a pair of linen shorts. Looking at my wrinkled line-dried clothes piled on the kitchen chair, I figure about another half hour and I’ll be finished. In the nearly seven... Continue Reading →
I quietly dig through my suitcase, trying not to wake him with shuffling and organizing. I glance over my shoulder and he is fast asleep, face down, arms splayed and peaceful. I am a little jealous of his masterful midday napping skills. I dozed off for a bit, but even with curtains drawn and only... Continue Reading →
Sinking into the oversized sofa, I sit one leg bent beneath me, wiping an endless stream of tears from my cheeks and neck. I blow my nose into a pitiful crumbling wad of tissue and reach for another. While I sniffle and snort my therapist stops speaking for a moment, patiently waiting for me to... Continue Reading →
Looking toward Catalina I see its faint silhouette in the summer haze. I wonder if the French speaking tourists lounging on the sand nearby know there is an island in the distance. To the untrained eye it does resemble a long and low hanging cloud on the horizon. While the skies overhead are beautifully blue,... Continue Reading →
Except for the tiniest bit of dim light coming from the master bath, my bedroom is dark. The soft rustle of sheets as I toss and turn, and my own breathing are the only sounds I hear. I try to lay still, close my eyes and take long slow breaths, counting to four as I... Continue Reading →
Saturday morning I sit sipping my coffee, waiting for Phyllis to join me. Across the small cafe table her black coffee, steam escaping the tiny hole in the cup’s lid, waits too. Within minutes she arrives, flashing her infectious smile. A dear friend, we share a love of love, stories of the heart, the mysteries... Continue Reading →
Bare Naked in Public 