My mother bought this bracelet 40 or 50 years ago, at a flea market or something. It’s sterling silver, from Mexico, and the stone is an amethyst. I always loved it. The stone had a fissure in it, which I thought was intriguing. Then Dad took some jewelry-making classes and replaced the amethyst with turquoise. It was … read more Restoration work
Tag: 2015
Three miles
Today was just not working out. I slept very well, and it was a lovely day, but I was so groggy and thick-headed that I couldn’t begin to function until 9. I had planned to start the week right by doing art first thing, but when I looked at the glass I didn’t have any idea … read more Three miles
The daily grind
At 8 a.m. today I was grinding. Not coffee. Not my teeth. Not at the proposal budget due tomorrow. I stood for half an hour in front of the grinder, feeling my way with bits of glass. It made the whole day go better. The glass grinder is a fairly simple machine. Physically it’s a big … read more The daily grind
Like that
Some ladies in my community wear makeup to water aerobics class. They don’t like to get their coiffed hair wet either. If I were still in my 30s I might make fun of them for that … but we’re all getting older, aren’t we? They look nice when they leave the fitness center – unlike me, with … read more Like that
Holes in my head
For more than a month, I’ve been running my fingers over the new holes in my head. OK, they’re not actual holes – you can’t look into them and see my brain. They’re large dents and grooves. Seeing as how they’re in my skull, they feel pretty freakin’ significant. They are near the incision that was made for … read more Holes in my head
Moving into a slower space
When Tom and I first returned to America after living overseas for five years, we couldn’t stand to drive on the freeway. Everything was so fast! It was unbearable. We’d been living in Kabul, Dubai, and Dili, where auto travel was closer to the speed of horse and buggy. Now, I catch myself doing 80 on the … read more Moving into a slower space
Inside and out
They ask how I am. I say that I’m OK. They compliment my haircut. I don’t show them the five-inch scar it hides. We talk for awhile, and they say it’s amazing how well I’ve recovered. Fooled ’em again. It’s been more than four months since the brain surgery, and most people can see no evidence … read more Inside and out
Numb
You’d think that someone who was raised Catholic and has been a reporter, editor, and journalism trainer for 35 years would have seen Spotlight the first week it came out. But when I finally watched it last night, I knew why it had taken so long. It’s an excellent movie, well-crafted and yet authentic in its two-camera simplicity, … read more Numb
Like velvet
Kelly handed me a pair of safety glasses. “Your eyes are at just the right height,” she said. I was digging through a box of scrap glass, and snipping pieces apart with a mosaic cutter. Shards tend to fly when you use those. Kelly was right, my eyes were in the danger zone – and … read more Like velvet
Happy Birthday, Herb!
Last February, I ran away from home. The winter was too much for me. I got into the car and drove to South Georgia and then Tampa and then Savannah. When I finally came back on March 6, the cold was mostly gone. I bought my herb plants for the year, and that Sunday, I cradled them into … read more Happy Birthday, Herb!