When I started this project, I cashed a check for $162.52 to get the 16,252 pennies. That was the last check of an annuity inheritance from Dad. Or so I thought. I got a letter from New York Life asking why I hadn’t cashed the check for February. Huh? I looked at my records and sure enough, … read more Day 78: Reset
Tag: 2015
Day 77: The T and me
It turns out that I, a cis, have a lot in common with transgender women and men. (Stop laughing, transgender people.) It started when I discovered how I completely relate to transgenders’ quandaries about clothes. I resent having to pick a gender every time I go out in public. I resent how conformity pushes at me. I want to … read more Day 77: The T and me
Day 76: Heart’s desire
Friday my fortune cookie said, “Your dearest wish will come true.” Well, that would be nice. Maybe then I’d know what it is. In the early 1990s, I was struggling to figure out my next steps in life. A very wise friend of mine told me, “The hardest part is knowing what you want.” So … read more Day 76: Heart’s desire
Day 74: Dipping in
I woke up early this morning certain of one thing: I will not live past this year. I will not survive past the age of 56. It was not a panic, nor a vague fear. Just a clear understanding: 56 is it, the final year. There was no image of death in a fiery wreck … read more Day 74: Dipping in
Day 71: Scattered
I’m not sure if I should even be writing today. All day I have been unable to focus on anything for more than a few minutes at a time. Peck, peck, neck swivel, peck, check email, peck peck, think about painting, peck peck, add up some numbers, peck peck, peck peck peck. Ever done that? … read more Day 71: Scattered
Day 57: Spirits of light
I love photography because I love the light. When all else fails me, I can remain faithful to the light. These photos were taken in winter, when we cling to the scant light and try to amplify it, warm our hands by it. I was studying video tutorials today, and the endless details of formats, scanning and … read more Day 57: Spirits of light
Day 46: Signs of the end
A couple days ago, I opened the front door and there they were: the reddening dogwood leaves. This is the first sign that summer is ending. The goldenrod is already out, and soon it will be the ironweed’s turn. A few other plants are taking on the red tinge, too. The basil is only wearily … read more Day 46: Signs of the end
Day 44: Another reason I love the South
I love my termite guy. He shows up once a year, inspects the house inside and out, never criticizes my housekeeping, and I hand him a check for $75. That’s not why I love him, though I am grateful for the professional service. No, what I love is that he likes to talk about bugs, … read more Day 44: Another reason I love the South
Day 29: A gathering in court
One Friday morning in March, a group of 20 men appeared before a judge in the Huron County courtroom. They were foreigners, part of a recent wave of immigrants who had rushed in seeking steady work and the possibility of a buying their own land and home. A new president had just been inaugurated, promising … read more Day 29: A gathering in court
Day 23: Vanity and pain
I should have known better than to wear those shoes. But I was going to a conference in Atlanta for women-owned businesses, and I knew that the women would all be wearing fashionable, high-heeled shoes. My North Georgia casual-comfortable Keens would not cut it in that crowd. Instead I wore some black shoes that had … read more Day 23: Vanity and pain