Humble Brags are Gross  Physician Heal Thyself I bristle at the implication that you are a more highly evolved, spiritual person if you are 24/7 “positive,” in effect, a sunshine-and-roses Pollyanna. I reject our culture’s overarching pressure (much of it by and for Christians, but it’s not limited to Christians) that if you aren’t perfectly … Read more

It’s sweltering—nearly game time—we’re walking through the Angel Stadium parking lot, heat mirage rising from the pavement, and my swollen, aching arm is in a sling. My broken arm was complicated the day before by a vile, venomous, vindictive bee. A bee so stealthy and cunning that I saw the fire-breathing, ruthless golden dragon neither … Read more

I was just in the garage, longingly and lovingly staring at my bikes. Before that, I was reminiscing about the “good ol’ days” with my Strava app on my phone. It indicates that I’ve logged 1,201 rides, resulting in 1,200 without any broken bones. All those times I didn’t break my arm when maybe I … Read more

If you watched the Fox show “24” with Kiefer Sutherland back in the day, you might remember the image and beeping of the digital clock before and after a commercial break and at the end of the episode, if I recall. The internet just informed me that a rare, silent clock displayed without the beep … Read more

He He He   Reclining in a black vibrating chair, my feet marinate in hot, sudsy water. Bowing before me, she reaches down, cradles my drippy tootsie #1, and brings it to a towel on her quad. She takes a gray speckled pumice stone to my calloused, jagged little heel and then to the ticklish, … Read more

  Bing: A wool blanket of stratus clouds covered the sky, except for a small opening that allowed laser-like streaming rays to beam down on the intersection at Sacred Cross (the place Joey last stood and was “beamed up”). Like a spotlight trained on a dark stage before the star would emerge from behind the … Read more

As a child and young adult, I wrote poetry. I don’t think I saved any of it. I don’t know if any of it was good, but like drawing, it felt good. It called and calmed me. I’ve been told there is poetry in my prose. Maybe that’s true. So I’m trying my hand at … Read more

“Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us.” ―Pema Chödrön.   Wild Abandon   She was abandonable   and a quick study   learning the art of DIY   she joined the others   glanced back at the little girl   and waved … Read more

Outsider Insider   The ink is not skin-deep It seeps through to my core   I’m an outsider I’m an insider   I live in a tent I live in a mansion   I don’t belong I belong   I’m a loser I’m a winner   I’m lost I’m a GPS   I’m weak I’m … Read more

  Three days ago, while on a bike ride, I saw none of the famous Cherry Blossoms on the downtown Portland Waterfront. It looked a little sad and barren. Today, in so many thermal and waterproof layers that my knees were barely bendable, I took a different bike route toward downtown. My mind was not … Read more