Miriam Feder

You can teach an old car new tricks.

When I moved to Portland, I bought my first car: a perfect green Rambler Rogue. I paid $1000 for a car that ran almost perfectly for years and worried that I likely overpaid.

I spoiled her faded, matronly body, by plunging it into a small yellow truck in a residential intersection. My only defense was exhaustion; I had just finished my first year in law school. The humans were just fine, but the Rogue gushed blue all over the intersection. My heartbreak.

My boyfriend loved cars and had monkeyed around with them since boyhood. This was more complex body work than he had done before but his devotion let to months of rehab. Love me—love my Rogue. She re-emerged as the lemon-lime Rogue. She had a shiny yellow hood and fenders, fresh from the junk yard, on her straightened steel frame.

In search of my next human romance I came to discover the Rogue’s special secrets. The front seats flattened back into a double mattress—they even took a fitted sheet if one was to be so delicate. She was the auto-equivalent of the diaphragm: up-front and functional. Together we navigated the public lands of Oregon in those wondrous days before “sex” was modified by the word “safe.”

I didn’t think she’d make it cross-country so I let her keep her cushy job, trucking law students to school, for a few more years. Eventually I replaced her with a brand new little red Chevette. I sometimes regretted leaving the Rogue behind. She didn’t need red, shiny, brand new. She was a classic, beyond all that. Her light yellow and faded green body was like Sophia Loren however thick the glasses. She was permanently hot.

 

 Oh, You Rogue!: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (140)

Today is 350 day.
Where?  All over the world there are creative actions. Find one near you and participate.

350 what? If atmospheric concentrations of CO2 remain above 350 parts per million, we face human and natural disaster.

who?  You, me, all of us.

Why?

In December in Copenhagen the world’s nations meet to agree on a new climate treaty. On October 24, the International Day of Climate Action we, those of us taking part in actions around the world, will call upon those nations to do Enough. It’s the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history. There will be rallies and incredible creative actions across the globe. Find an action near you. Go to the website 350.org. Find 350.org on facebook. Do Something:

 

 350 Day [1:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (39)

In Print

 

 Second Chance [8:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (82)

Here are a couple of very short stories–under 100 words each.  Also see a couple of waiting room stories.

 

 More Very Short Stories [1:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (60)

In Print

This piece is also published in VoiceCatcher 4, published in 2009 by Portland Women Writers. I’ve performed the original piece–The Stutthof–in The Vestibule and the full piece as part of a selection on Identity at the Oregon Jewish Museum new members reception for the showing of 48 Jews.

Also in print.

If you’re interested in more about this subject find a more journalistic account of my Winter 2009 trip.

 

 The Stutthof: a question and an answer: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (7)

Sometimes we run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off–sometimes like a mad dog. What an animal! Mad Dog revisited.

 

 Mad Dog: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (108)

Well coming into the Holiday buying season I always remember the appliance years–first apartments and all– and my tribute to the last appliance-gift I received.  It’s a beauty–and it’s season is coming so I thought I’d revisit it.

 

 What an Appliance: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (101)

I wrote, reviewed and performed a great deal about my family in Big Words.  Now–I’m done–at least for awhile.

Also in print.

 

 My Family--Enough Already [6:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (56)

Sometimes we seem to be swept up in an epidemic of apology.  And yet, many apologies are abusive, retaliatory, arrogant–anything but sincere.  What do we do about those people?

 

 I'm Sorry [2:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (78)