“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

High noon from my high table lunch for one please   like toddler’s legs dangling from my pub chair fuzzy slippers below my knees   honey-sheer café curtains meant to shield the hot winter sun it’s a filter-turned-projector not to be outdone the stage is set for the main event one i’m known for and … Read more

Since I’m on Melody Beattie’s email list, I just received the mass email from her daughter, Nichole, announcing that her momma passed on four days ago. She writes: On February 27, at 10 pm, just as the new moon fell into Pisces, my beautiful mother, Melody Beattie, passed away. She died peacefully at home, surrounded … Read more

I like to see Oscar-nominated films before the big show, and so since time is of the essence, I planned to see “A Complete Unknown” today, solo. I spontaneously left a few minutes early to run into Costco to check the price of an item. This wasn’t a “Costco run” where my MINI was maxed, … Read more

I wanted (want) to say to God, “Hold my catastrophes, will ya?” As we were preparing for our son’s memorial, an “Evergreen” behind our two-story house—one nearly as tall as our house—suddenly fell over. I was home and heard the crash-bam-boom. I ran to the ruckus and saw the downed tree. If I’d been in … Read more

Whenever I wear this bike jersey by Cycology, (pronounced “psychology”) and inspired by Frida Kahlo, I almost—without fail—get a compliment (i.e., a car passenger boldly yells, “I LIKE YOUR SHIRT!”) Everybody loves Frida! Yesterday, the crossing guard checking out my kit + gear asked, “Do you do this every morning?” I assumed she meant riding … Read more

This morning, before any slippery bits could fall through the rusty sieve between my temples, I decided to jot down notes about what had happened over the last few days since writing about “talking” bunnies, dolphins, deer—and music—but then I became distracted by the Mary Oliver tome I keep on my nightstand. I turned the … Read more

If I could walk with the animals and talk with the animals Grunt, squeak, squawk with the animals And they could squeak and squawk And speak and talk to me They would talk too — Sammy Davis Jr.   On the day of Joey’s memorial, I referenced the hymn “It is Well with My Soul.” … Read more