Best little brother ever. đź’™
Leaving well enough alone
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” These wise words, which I had heard more than once growing up, did not occur to me as I observed my son and nephew, ages five and eight respectively, happily playing a board game according to rules they had invented. The game, called “Pen the Pig,” was an […]
A teeny tiny act of kindness
“Would you like some fresh ground pepper on your salad, sir?” I ask dutifully. I am nineteen years old, far from home and family, and I am dressed like a tavern wench, complete with ruffled skirt and blouse, white stockings, cameo choker and mob cap. The scene is a since-defunct Anchorage restaurant known as Clinkerdagger, […]
The Saga of the Chocolate Almonds
Author’s note: I participate in a program that takes a holistic approach to health and weight management. In a recent conversation with my coach, she encouraged me to imagine a conversation with the chocolate almonds that I find so hard to resist. Here’s what landed on the page. Cast of characters: EVELYN: a lady of […]
Fight, flight or freeze
It is the summer of 1982, which makes me twenty-two, and not for the first time that summer I am afraid that I might die in about the next two seconds. The source of this fear is my participation in an Intermediate Mountaineering class through Anchorage Community College. At this moment, we are coming down […]
Break time
Hello, readers. I’m taking a little time away from writing. Thanks for your support and encouragement; I’ll be back when you least expect it! Meanwhile, may everything in your life be right as rain.
Eagle tree
When my kids were small, our nearest neighbors were a family of bald eagles. Every spring, the mister and missus would meet up at the tree and raise at least one chick. It was likely the same pair, but there could have been a swap out if one of them died. Eagles, I have been […]
The Adventures of Raptor Boy, Part the Second
My kitten Abner, aka Raptor Boy, is six months old, fully vaxxed and recently neutered, and is now allowed outside for short periods of time. This morning, quite early, he expressed interest in such an adventure. I opened the door, and he squatted on the threshold, hedging his bets, until he heard a loud sound, […]
The evolution of bacon and eggs
Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you. . .microwave bacon! Like so many other things, this concept came to me due to a happy accident. Here’s the scene: having found myself home alone for two weeks, on the first morning I set out to fix myself some bacon and eggs. No sooner had I fired up […]
Some thoughts about tomatoes
“Mama, I’ve got some kind of rash!” Scene: it is 2:00 a.m., I am ten years old, and I have broken out in the most magnificent case of hives that has been seen in my family for many a year. My mother helped me cover just about every inch of me with soda/water paste and […]