“It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” John Adams, in a letter to Abigail, July 3, 1776. John Adams was off by two days—he thought the holiday ought to [...]
I hadn’t checked into a hotel with a man other than my ex in over 20 years. The atmosphere was so charged I could barely sign. There was a king sized bed, a hot tub, and the two of us for hours and hours. Just after midnight we finally dragged ourselves out of bed and down to the beach. I’d heard something about the Leonid meteor shower.
To the Trees Geography offered me five choices. I picked canopy. Apples, dust and guano challenged my arrival, but skin leathered and I rose. I passed familiar robins and crows. Shy new neighbors hopped away, surprised to see skin.It’s such a loud neighborhood, especially in the mornings. As dirt caked, broke and caked again, I [...]
There now, there’s nothing so odd about carrying a large mammalian skeleton through the nice residential part of town. Not until a car comes in the opposite direction, that is. “Hey Roy, who’s the girl with the dead animal. D’ya know?”
In my early travels I saw people cook smelly things in woks on the street. I would ask “what is it?” “again…please,” a third time… Now I was embarrassed and I still didn’t have a clue what he said. My rule became: if it’s very hot; buy it; bite it; and if you don’t like [...]
Vacation…. It’s a word full of expectations, delights, new experiences, satisfaction, planning, speed, languor, surprise, discovery, disappointment, and yes, even stress. I’ll be performing this as part of Big Words, for a September debut.
Traveling in Ireland gave me a chance to discover my own resources and the fabulous generosity of people generally and the Irish in particular. We never see ourselves better than when we are on the road. And I can still feel my belly on the edge of the cliffs of Moher. I understand they’re fenced [...]
I love cities–the story of their growth, the declines I remember, and now they’re back again, shining and beautiful–almost too beautiful. But still, it’s good to have them back and appreciated. From Big Words
Getting the last drop from a great vacation–big finish. Remember air travel when you didn’t get to the airport an hour and a half ahead of time? Amble down the jetway; from The Passaggio.