Yes, I’m a woman of sensible, terribly sensible shoes. I still own lots of them. After a ten-pair purge I’m down to just over thirty…pair. I buy shoes prophylactically, restoratively, because they are there and occasionally even because I need them. But No, I never had Go-Go boots. Did you?
Early into my Big Words phase I ran into a quote by Winston Churchill: “All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom; justice; honor; duty; mercy; truth; hope. Those were some Big Words. Maybe I was onto something. Winston Churchill was no slouch. But most of those [...]
When I chose a boy and a girl guinea pig, I thought a litter or two would be interesting for my daughter. I didn’t yet know about the extreme reproductive technologies of rodents. Having learned about them, I’m especially relieved to be a female human. Doing what rodents do best, round one, produced three replicas [...]
NOSTALGIC LOVE My tenderized heart craves remembered passion yet, while cool head prevails MORNING Awaken spirit Speak the smallest grains of truth Boulders will follow
Where did I go for hours on Thursday? Abducted by aliens? My mind left me, hollow, and probed by questions. I failed the test but offered a plan That’s me–always a plan. “We’ll walk, get some coffee.” Coffee cures anything in this town. Now it’s our plan The hospital? OK. Just like everywhere else There’s [...]
Listen to his heart’s tongue. You only know your own jealous blood. You’ve been burned and betrayed before—that shows. So now you would stifle all skin—fine or fiery. But now’s time to trust him and your sleek passion.
First, the sandwich bag was all wrong. It could be any plastic bag that found its way into the house, usually cradling my Dad’s stiff shirt or the Tribune. These bags were huge, unwieldy and, by the time they reached the cafeteria, sticky inside and out. The sandwich didn’t float out— often the bag would have to be removed from the sandwich.
Even bad ice cream is pretty good. It’s simple, smooth, creamy, and a perfect chocolate delivery system. Sometimes it’s truly great. I confess I’m a bit of an ice cream snob. I’ve been a huge fan of gelato since I personally discovered Italy in 1985: no Gianni-come-lately. Yes I’m happy gelato has come to America, [...]
Gina’s often late with the rent. She’ll call me to say when she’ll be able to mail it. Sometimes it comes in two chunks—often with passes for the movie theater where she works. I thank her for letting me know. I always emphasize how helpful it is to know. It’s already past the tenth and [...]
We would strip away the world and became so vulnerable. These times felt rich and real.