exploring life and love with pictures and words
I was sitting on the patio, enjoying the company of friends, my hands wildly emphasizing my words. I don’t remember what I was saying, only that I had just finished my sentence when I glanced toward the sidewalk and caught his eye. He quickly looked away, spooned ice cream into his mouth, and walked on... Continue Reading →
Last week I recorded my audiobook. I read my memoir from beginning to end, while the talented Mary Catherine listened carefully to every word. She caught the ones I swallowed, skipped or mispronounced. If my voice was too loud, or too soft, or if my intonation was wrong, she coached me until I got it... Continue Reading →
Auld Lang Syne . . . “Nothing. I’m not doing anything. I hate New Year’s Eve.” This is my response to a friend when he innocently asks about my plans for ringing in the new year. I regret the words as soon as they hit the air space between us. Poor guy, he asks a... Continue Reading →
A summer storm has interrupted the predictable sunny days of August in Southern California. My bedroom window wide open, the curtain pulled aside, I lay on my bed listening to the rain dance on the back patio and I welcome the rush of cool air. The book I’ve been reading rests on my chest, and... Continue Reading →
Somewhere between sleep and waking, I float in the periphery of a sweet dream. I want to stay here soaking up its warm light, but the image fades, and peace slips away. A familiar ache creeps into my subconscious and I reluctantly recall the reason for the void I feel. I miss someone. I’m surprised... Continue Reading →
I warm my hands on the doubled up paper cup of steeping tea, and people watch. Two young men discuss yesterday’s surf over coffee. The bearded one catches my eye and lowers his voice. I hear a whisper of a woman's name and look away, pretending I was not eavesdropping. In the center of the... Continue Reading →
Once a week I help my grandson with his schoolwork. It’s a tough day, for both of us. He has little interest in Google slides, or prerecorded stories on Youtube read aloud by random teachers. He interrupts my instruction and the videos constantly to tell me about outer space, meteors and solar storms. He wants... Continue Reading →
I lift the dusty lid from the cardboard box revealing envelopes stuffed with photographs and negatives. Neatly stacked upright and mostly organized chronologically, some are marked with brief descriptions, Oregon ’82, Catalina ’89, and others are not marked at all. I’m looking for a particular picture, something from decades ago that I want to post... Continue Reading →
We sit on barstools at the counter facing the large open window to Main Street’s foot traffic. Juice from the fish taco I’m devouring runs past my wrist and down my arm, I catch it with a napkin. You haven’t touched your quesadilla, but you have nearly finished your fries. I try to coax you... Continue Reading →
Hello Friends, I was recently interviewed by my friends Sarah and Mia of The Kindred Voice for their podcast The Kindred Convos. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback so I thought I would share the interview here on my blog. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, this podcast may be for you. :-)... Continue Reading →
Bare Naked in Public 