It's probably normal for a coastal-raised child to liken many things to the sea. Currents and tides have been a useful metaphor for me (and many writers far better), but I think the reasons why became clearer for me Saturday while grocery shopping. Grief is sneaky, unlike ocean tides and waves which while sometimes dangerous, are at least …
Category: Friendship
I Sing a Song of Secretaries
It's great we have a day to recognize "Administrative Professionals" or, as they used to be known, Secretaries, and I always appreciated the efforts made to acknowledge my contributions as one. But just as one "aw shit" eradicates a thousand "atta girls", I will never forget how much it hurt the couple of times those …
Lenten Food
I couldn't help thinking of my late friend, Jeff, this morning as I ate my breakfast. It was delicious: half a whole wheat bagel generously spread with home-made hummus, topped with thinly sliced cucumber and grape tomato halves, and sprinkled with home-made zesty Italian dressing. So flavorful and healthy! Sometimes I chop up a few …
An Old, Unlikely Angel
I was feeling a bit sorry for myself yesterday, finishing off left-over pasta puttanesca. For the record, puttanesca is delicious the first day, a bit lack-luster the second, but the mediocrity both suited and fed my mood. Today is October 1st, and the fourth anniversary of my friend's, Jeff's, death. I've been feeling his loss …
The Curative Taco
Who knew that Kroger's at 4:00 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon is a freaking combat zone? Shouldn't all those pushy/oblivious/rude people be home watching football? Did they not see us carefully staying to our side of the aisle and could they not do the same, instead of stopping dead center while sending text messages? And what was …
Love & Loss & Mustard Seeds
Like a stubborn child and reaching for the book of matches after being warned not to, I can almost always reach back into the cluttered recesses of my brain where Love and Loss is stored and blow flame back into some diminished coal of pain or longing, but I generally don't. Therapy, time, and experience teach …
Southern Fried Californian 