I didn’t know how to bake a pie. I was more into hunting and turning a wrench under the hood of my old red truck. The cinnamon-sugar-encrusted latticework of a warm, homemade apple pie slice sitting next to a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream persuaded me to learn. The crust snapped in my teeth. […]
An Education in Apple Pie Read More »
When Dade County Circuit Court Judge Edward Cowart sentenced Theodore Robert “Ted” Bundy to death for brutally murdering two Florida co-eds, he said something. “Take care of yourself, young man. I say that to you sincerely; take care of yourself. It is an utter tragedy for this court to see such a total waste of
Where Little Hope Remains Read More »
Wait . . . One of the houses I lived in as a child is now a bookstore? Books? The universe is telling me something, right? You gotta go to this bookstore. A good book is full of character, like this house. What better place to buy a literary gem? Walk around and peruse the
Laughter tumbles over wet, earthy-smelling rapids. A succession of bodies on streamlined plastic, trimming on the left, correcting on the right, watch out for that big rock there, look how pretty the sky is. A vape passed from one hand to another. Coconut? Don’t you dare drop it in the water. A flask holding a
Euphoria and the Yellow Dwarf Read More »
You may drive through Vega and feel like it doesn’t have much to offer. Or does it? I’ve been thinking about that little town for three months. About what Valerie Doshier did there. About the contribution of art. When we moved our son to Montana we saw places like Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming. The Battle
Her Portfolio is Complete Read More »
The right scent can teleport you. The breakroom in one of the old courthouses I frequent smells just like the old farmhouse. When I’m in that county, I make it a point to go in there and let it take me back. Baking bread. The laundry detergent and soap Grandma and Grandpa used. Coffee. The
In this season of our children growing into adults and driving and graduating and moving away, I’ve had a lot of conversations with them about life stuff. Adulthood. Beliefs. Being careful. Heavy stuff, as they say. The other day I was looking at photos on my mother’s shelves. I looked at mine and caught my
Things I need to tell you Read More »
I might cope with sadness through self-induced suffering. I could lace up my trail runners and stow water and go. Let’s say I go hiking for miles in a dry landscape in triple digits like a fool. Imagine it with me . . . I smell hot dirt. Feel dead grass crackle underfoot. Thank God
Decision to Leave the Dead Read More »
“Did you want to show Bobby the rock wall that killed your Grandpa?” Mom asked. “There it is. I guess it killed him. He fell asleep and hit it. Was a long time before anyone found him. He died at the hospital. That’s where his car hit. See that newer patch right there?” Dad laughed
When They Were Saplings Read More »
I SEE YOU IN THE FAMILY PHOTO ON MY OFFICE WALL. Flanked on your right by three younger siblings, on your left by an older sibling and your parents. You were eleven. Elementary school. Pre-braces. When your teeth were still crooked and gave you that little turtle smile that you wouldn’t mind until a few