I wasn't quite sure how any of this business was supposed to work, on the Orient Express that wasn't really in the Orient, but I tried hard to act like I'd done it a hundred or so times before, and knew exactly what was going on.  I'd already… Read full post »

I address these words to that tiny little farming town from hell in Northern California, the recalcitrant town that won't quite disappear, that won't quite fade entirely back into the fog, the town I put behind me and slammed the door on so long ago.

We write:  "I… Read full post »

It was Massachusetts, in the springtime.  I stayed a couple of nights in Boston.

I love cities, I love the whole concept of urban, and so, of course, I loved Boston.  I could go on and on about the food and the accents and how the women all seemed… Read full post »

This is the story of my escape from a tiny little farming town in Northern California.

The ocean was five miles west of town.  There were sharks in the ocean.  These were the days way before surfers, really, and no one gave any thought to sharks.  This was… Read full post »

Is there too much time?

Sometimes, like during a marriage that didn't appear to be going anywhere, that seemed like it would last forever, that went on and on and on without really going anywhere, well, there was way too much time, and I would just as soon… Read full post »

A long time ago.

I am from a long time ago.

I am from a ong time ago, but I feel like I'm just starting.

I am from a time and place that no longer exist.

I do not miss them.

Perhaps one day I'll decide I'm from someplace I haven't… Read full post »

For purposes of clarification, this was on one of those curved little billboard-y ads inside a bus, the ones that kind of meld the sides of the bus to the top, the ones that try to capture your attention, already knowing they've got lots of competition, already knowing… Read full post »

Where did it go?

Who took it?

How can I join it?

Can we set up a new colony that no one else will even know about, a land of cafes and bookstores for folks like me who are just a wee teensy bit on the quirky side,… Read full post »

The man sat at the end of a grey Formica table, struggling to light his pipe with matches from a matchbook.  It took him 3 or 4 matches and a lot of huffing and puffing to get the pipe going.  He sent a billowing cloud of Prince Albert… Read full post »

This is the story of how I escaped a tiny little farming town in Northern California.

This one's been knocking on the door, trying to find its way out, so this is probably the perfect time for that to happen, for this little tale to escape my brain.… Read full post »

Well......two things come glaringly to mind, so I guess I should give them voice.

I drank too much scotch.  It didn't become too much till I stopped.  Before that, it wasn't nearly enough.  So I did in fact do that, drink too much scotch, pretty good scotch.  It… Read full post »

Today is Friday, December 9, 2011.  Today is International Chicken Salad Day.

International Chicken Salad Day occurs approximately every two and a half to three weeks.

Last night, Charles said to me, "Hey, Honey, isn't it about time we had some chicken salad?"

That's how I know when Internationa… Read full post »

"Dots" is what my daughter named her blanket that she wouldn't let go of for three years.

Look who's crying now.

Hurry! Hurry!
Write! Write!
Fast! Fast!

Don't look for dots to connect.

Let them connect themselves.

They don't need my help, thank you very much.

Leave them alone.

They will find their own way.

Take a nice little nap.

Shhhhhhhh........

I'm sitting in my bedroom in Los Angeles.  This is a Los Angeles bedroom.

It is utilitarian in a jumble of ways that are uniquely mine.

As my life gets bigger, as my life is growing now in new directions, the room feels more and more like my actual, literal… Read full post »

“Are you wearing socks underneath that?” Guy asked. “No, just my toes,” I told him. My big toe, right foot, red polish removed, winked back up at him. I continued that I’d just bought some iron-on patches from the yardage store, and was going to… Read full post »

I’ve been doing a little spring cleaning, things that couldn’t wait any longer, you know?

Into the bag I dropped off at my local donation store yesterday, I tossed two tee shirts I’d received in acknowledgement of my modest but heartfelt donations to your campaign.… Read full post »