Self-centered creature that I am, I’ve been feeling as though this spring was designed and built JUST FOR ME. With a long winter of struggling through recovery from brain surgery, I felt shrunken and afraid. Then the flowers bloomed. And bloomed. And kept blooming. It has been a spring of tremendous abundance. I hoped to see one … read more The most lush spring ever
Month: June 2016
Lightening up
I was up at 4 a.m., roaming the house, trying to get away from the noise I was hearing outside. It sounded like an air conditioner, one that was struggling too hard and needs to be fixed. It ran and ran and never shut off for the two hours that I was awake. The sort of … read more Lightening up
Elevation gain
A week ago, I tackled the steep mountain trail that goes to about 3,000 feet, and was delighted that I did the uphill half in 53 minutes. Wanted to do a little better this time. Another objective was to capture a photo of the flower that I was unsure of last week. Today it was clear: When … read more Elevation gain
Certain kind of wind
Cold that comes in the wrong month, big oaks have to bend, light that’s caught in the leaves, a certain kind of wind Air from the Caucasus, memory of other breezes, uneven breath, an old man’s sighs, homesick for an unknown place Movement without purpose, shapes without form, stirred restless without progress, old movies on … read more Certain kind of wind
What hurts about beauty
I slept too late and moved too slowly. When I gathered my seven pieces of colored paper, the shapes would not play. They sat stiffly in their rectangles and triangles, and waited for the time to pass until the daily call from Pakistan came and I had to answer it. After a lot of commotion, I … read more What hurts about beauty
Being an idiot
Stupid. Idiot. Dumb-a**. Fool. Nitwit. Dope. Dipsh*t. Brainless. You use those words much? I have. They’re insults we throw around all the time: while driving or shopping, in heated Facebook discussions, yelling at the TV. Maybe we even mutter those words at ourselves when we make a big mistake. In nearly seven months since my … read more Being an idiot
This is a DATE, right?
We had already gone out twice. We met for drinks at 7 in our neighborhood bar. The first time I looked at my watch, it was midnight. What a novelty, to spend that much time just talking with a man and not feel even a little bit bored. The next week, we had lunch at the neighborhood Mexican restaurant, and went … read more This is a DATE, right?
The silence of the ferns
It was nearly sunset as I crashed through the forest. I usually make some noise while hiking in areas with bears, wild hogs and snakes, so that they have a chance to clear out before I confront them. Plus, I’d just left a community jam session, and the little bit of sing-along got my musical heart beating. … read more The silence of the ferns
Tick, tick, tick
No matter how hot it gets, I wear long pants and a hat when I hike through the woods. Along with bug spray, this is my protection from ticks and chiggers. It’s not enough, though. Chiggers are the larvae of mites, and they hang out near the ground where it’s moist. They jump onto your clothes … read more Tick, tick, tick
Old friends, new friends
A storm was coming. I had to hike early today to beat it, because I was going to do a tough trail. It’s one I haven’t been on in many months. But my recovery seems to be mostly over, and I felt ready to tackle it. The trail starts out with a piece that climbs steadily but … read more Old friends, new friends