Heading northwest along the winds and twists of Santiago Canyon Road, I was less than a quarter mile from the trailhead when I noticed a man on the opposite side of the street, wielding a hoe and clearing an area around what looked like a wooden cross. I saw tools, supplies, and flowers. I stopped … Read more
I’ve been getting religious about starting my day with twenty minutes in the hot tub ‘cause these here bones are getting creaky. I’ve self-prescribed this routine, an early-morning soak, as self-care and a bubbly PT session for my ever-stiffening muscles. Maybe I’ve heeded too much of Hunter S. Thompson’s advice to squeeze as much juice … Read more
My vantage point was from the backseat of an Uber: Ahead, a tiny 8 in. by 2 in. frame of Joey’s “mind.” This rearview mirror captured only the driver’s forehead—one that looked like my son’s. The missing detail was the faint scar Joey earned while trying to walk before he could talk. The trip to … Read more
“Never compare your insides to everyone else’s outsides.” ― Anne Lamott “I know that.”—Nathan Thurm A few weeks ago, a beautiful, present, insightful friend sent me this podcast episode. I forgot about it until a few minutes ago, when I finally listened. Interesting timing, because I watched the Martin Short documentary, “Marty, Life … Read more
There’s a tectonic shift within your very being when your worst fears come true. When more than one of those worst fears comes true, it’s called a “megathrust.” Can anything remain intact after such a Great Earthquake? April 27, 2026: Cassie and Pam are on a hike. Pam spots a “piano” in the raging … Read more
Yesterday, at the freeway off-ramp that leads to our neighborhood, I “saw” Joey. I saw his little, humble, hand-me-down oxidized green car with the surfboard rack on top, and through the windshield, I saw his wild curls atop his beautiful head. Many years ago, I was on the other side of that intersection when I … Read more
We happened upon a cold plunge. As I got closer, I saw a group of Native Americans in a ziggy-zag single file line, laughing as they joyfully dipped into the cold river, with icy water coming from the glaciers and snow on Mt. Hood. (I’ve previously toyed with the idea of cold plunge therapy, mostly … Read more
“Eyes reflecting the secrets of the divine dance and twine like pools of moonlit serenity, offering a glimpse of heaven.”–Unknown For one who loves adventure, This long, circuitous one has been most unwelcome. Pain was the tour guide… The engineer. Pain placed a hood over my head, And I became blind. It grabbed … Read more
While chasing waterfalls on my birthday eve, I lost my sole. Well, technically two. Having completed roughly 85% of our Latourell Falls loop in the Columbia River gorgeous-gorge, I became a little tripped up: The undercarriage of my right hiking boot became a flap. I lifted my foot and saw that the sole was like … Read more
I revere the humble human in a recovery group’s metal folding chair. They tend to risk and reveal more than a church member in a pew. The bravest and strongest people I know show their “weakness” and are truly self-aware. They are awake. We don’t know what we don’t know, nor when we’re … Read more