California Dreaming
Do you ever have these vivid little childhood memories pop back into existence? Never anything drastic or exciting, but those deeply human moments where the world turns differently or the sky is out of focus and life grows. For some reason, tonight, I thought of my first trip to California. When I was small, not … Continue reading
Questing
I spent the summer I turned twelve doing four things: reading, keeping a journal of every book I read and film I saw, practicing my violin, and mowing the lawn while belting show tunes (secretly dreaming I’d be discovered by a talent agent over the drone of the mower). The summer I turned twelve I … Continue reading
Travel Tuesdays: Revival
I recently came across my Travel Tuesday stories: a short-lived weekly ritual exploring places I had been as we waited (and waited and waited) for the uncertain future to transport us to America. I felt strangely jealous. Delighted to revisit places I fondly remember, surprised and rather chuffed at being transported by words I don’t … Continue reading
Old Friends
As a Michigander in Chicago it is inevitable I run into people. This place is full of past. For me, my family, my friends. But the particular domestic pleasure of walking through Andersenville on a sunny morning is multiplied when you recognize an old friend in the dappled crosswalk. The gaunt gait and long jaw … Continue reading
Food of love
Some live to eat while others eat to live. Had I infinite time and money I would run millions of experiments and projects, one of which would investigate those in the latter camp. To eat well is to feel with your whole self. To be alive to what goes in your body and the sensational … Continue reading
Iowa
Imagine for a second the state of Iowa. Probably you see farms. Perhaps a church. Almost definitely wide open land and big skies. Even if you have never seen the endless fields of the American breadbasket, the region’s reputation precedes it, and by a wide margin. My own Iowa memories center on my great-grandmother’s attic … Continue reading
Things I Like — Oldies
As a true member of the Oregon Trail Generation, I am expected to wax nostalgic before something is even over, and reminisce regularly about 80s pop culture staples (I do. I have. Since 1988.). But it cannot explain my undying love for old music. And not trite hipster Johnny Cash effusions and LPs, but plain … Continue reading
Kitchen Tour
I love our apartment. I love it hard. Even if we were millionaires I’d be hard-pressed to change much about it (excepting of course my burning desire to build a terrace hanging garden and outdoor cafe seating area on the back deck. THAT I will splurge on as soon as I am able.) Our apartment … Continue reading
Audacity, Self Awareness (& Basketball)
In 7th grade I played intramural basketball. Being a late bloomer in 90% of human functionality, namely anything which wasn’t purely cognitive and especially anything requiring social skills or awareness, I played basketball like a child. At 13, I didn’t care who was watching, or if my jersey was lumpy. I didn’t care if the … Continue reading
Drawing Dinosaurs
In the first weeks of kindergarten I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Everyday I got to go out on my own to a place full of other kids and play and read and learn stuff. ALL MORNING. All the best things in life were crammed into that room. We had a proper playhouse, … Continue reading
Que Sera Sara? 