When I discovered that today would have been Fred Rogers's 85th birthday, I knew I could not let the day go unnoticed. Yet, even though Mr. Rogers and his neighborhood were instrumental in my development and continued growth as a man, I cannot find… Read full post »

Being on the verge of tears for seemingly no reason while at work is definitely inappropriate.

Feeling the warmth building at the bottom of my eyes, threatening to escape, trying to push a little closer to spill down my face--to get out--to plead with me to run for the… Read full post »

Our 1979 maroon Ford Thunderbird was my favorite car. I'm not sure what draws me to this particular automobile from the many we had in my childhood; perhaps it was the giant bench seats where I could sprawl out with my sister and the two of us could sleep on… Read full post »

I hadn't heard anything, so I wasn't expecting anyone to arrive. Yet, here they were. They came. All three of them. Apparently the rich and famous do not need to RSVP. However, I was caught unprepared, and all I had in my apartment were some cinnamon Pop-Tarts and… Read full post »

William Least Heat Moon travelled around the United States in 1978 on the blue highways found in the Rand McNally atlas. The blue highways indicated those country highways that tend to bypass larger cities: after losing his job and getting divorced from his wife, he lived out of his van and… Read full post »

Let's say your work sponsored a picnic where attendance was mandatory. A good time was expected to be had by all, so pratice your fake smiles.

You arrive at the picnic and everyone is there, people who have been around forever and people who are fresh on the job.… Read full post »

It is a non-descript red notebook. Spiral bound graph paper, with colored-in block patterns toward the middle and bottom of the paper contrasting the scribbles toward the top of each page. 

This is where I write my "To Do" lists.

Writing these lists is not a… Read full post »

 I realize I'm late to the party. I'm not much of a joiner, never have been the social type, so I was planning on skipping the obligatory Father's Day post--leave it to the people who have strong feelings of attachment and love for… Read full post »

I may live in the country, but I'm not oblivious to the signs. 

For the past decade, piece by piece, a type of cleansing or purging of the insignificant, the trite, or the deemed unworthy. 

I am talking, of course, of the death of fiction.

First, at the Borders… Read full post »

Greetings class of 2012:

As a member of Generation X, I'd like to welcome you into what has been called "The Real World."

When I was in school, we were the generation that was going to destroy the… Read full post »

First off, I don't like science fiction. The chatter about aliens, machines of the future, and super diseases just does not strike a chord with me. When I read H. G. Wells, George Orwell, or Isaac Asimov--I reach for a razor to begin slitting my wrists (down river,… Read full post »

A wall separates them as they dress. She chooses her adornments with care: accentuating her long neck, high cheekbones, and light sprinkles across the room with the rise and fall of her voice. These precious diamonds were a gift from him. The twinkle of the jewels,… Read full post »

When I was a kid, my mother and I were at Northtown Mall in Blaine, Minnesota. One of its anchor stores was a Woolworth's, and it had a restaurant attached to it that served the best chicken tenders on Earth, mostly because they served them with… Read full post »

After being traumatized at Boston Store, I headed to the food court to gorge myself on a pity pretzel from Auntie Annie's.  It was topped with buttery, salty goodness.

The corridors teemed with leacherous kiosk sales people: 

No, I don't care… Read full post »

Planning ahead to Father's Day, I decided I would capitalize on my mall visit with a gift purchase of cologne for my dad. He deserves it.  However, he enjoys a hard to find cologne called "Fujiyama," which sounds more like a brand of… Read full post »

As a general rule, I avoid large groups of people. The constant flux and motion of crowds takes my breath away, and usually I have to go home and take a nap to recover from sensory overload. Yet, despite these apprehensions, this weekend, I found myself at the "rich people's"… Read full post »

December 20^th, 2012

11:50 p.m.

The wind whipping through open windows,

with the heat on full furnace blast,

the proper blend of fire with ice

on this five hour drive.

The arrival, among the abundant fields… Read full post »

We are not a family of soldiers. I know only of one family member who ever served in the armed forces: my great-grandfather's brother who is buried in the American cemetary in France. Instead, we are a stoic clan who keep to ourselves,  farmers mostly, who can… Read full post »

Back when I was in college getting my degree in music, national standards were released for the arts: visual art, music, theater, and dance. And for some reason, dance has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm sure many out there can recall… Read full post »

Tomorrow will be a day of empty pleasantries.

8 hours in a small conference room with my entire department (6 people: 5 women; 1 man--me--), working on the same task--together.

In theory.

This meeting happens twice a year. We all know it is coming; in my calendar I mark… Read full post »

A BOTTICELLI BEAUTY

It was the most beautiful dream: at a dark smoke-filled bar I listened to jazz music while sipping an appletini. I was in my 20s again, wearing that sleek red dress that I know I gave to the Goodwill after Travis was born. Out of… Read full post »

126 years ago today, Emily Dickinson died. Her 1700+ poems have inspired children's books, classical music pieces, Hallmark cards, and have infuriated and bored many a high school student. 

She was reclusive, wildly intelligent, silently tortured, and had such a tight grasp on… Read full post »

Dear _____________ :

Remember me? The quiet guy who sat behind you in English class? I know I won't forget you. The year was 1992. I was the little one who wore different colored Converse All-Star high-top tennis shoes, the quiet one with shaggy blonde hair who tried really hard… Read full post »

For those who are looking for a well-reasoned, political discussion on gun issues--this is not for you. If you would like a rant about the horrors of guns and the people who use them, I would suggest going elsewhere. Sure, I have political… Read full post »

I decided to head over to the grocery store.

The objective: purchase ice cream.

Why? After the day I had today, I deserved it.

I stepped into my flip-flops, grabbed my keys, and hit the road. I had my blue fleece sweatshirt on and my bright green pajama pants plastered… Read full post »