Postmortem In the late winter of this year, I struggled with the treatment for my blood cancer, multiple myeloma. It consisted of three ingredients taken over the course of a 28 day period. My quality of life, due to side effects, was poor. I’d toughed it out over seven cycles, but the drugs did not … More Postmortem
We have a Zoom link for tomorrow’s Celebration of Life for John. The link becomes active at 1 pm on August 17; the actual Tribute Ceremony begins at 1:30. We hope you can join us. Just clink on the link under “Join Zoom Meeting”, or copy and paste the link into your browser. JOHN SMITH … More Zoom Link for John’s Celebration of Life
John Smith, born 9-27-1946, died 7-21-2025. He was a good dishwasher and he loved cats. His wife Marilyn, and sons Noah and Isaac were with him at the end. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Columbia Gorge Cat Rescue. PO Box 486, Lyle, WA 98635. gorgecat.org A Celebration of Life will … More Going Home
“We are all just walking each other home.” Ram Dass My days follow a simple pattern. I walk, I read, and I nap. Today, I wander through our neighborhood alone. Current events reveal a world gone mad. I am careful to not dive deep into the follies of mankind. It’s a whirlpool of regret. Wars, … More Friends, Canes, And Walking
I fed the birds all winter long. I scattered seed and hung suet cages. A multitude of sparrows, juncos, and chickadees visited during the dreary time of mid-winter. As the days lengthened in March, more colorful species began to arrive. Gold finches and their rosy cousins brightened the budding lilacs. They stopped by for snacks … More Ordinary Things
“Writing is a form of activism.” Brooke Warner I am a mediocre typist. Hunt and peck is my style. Furthermore, my fine motor skills deteriorate with age. The pinky of my left hand wanders. When I attempt to strike the letter A, the letter S often appears instead. Or, that little finger double taps a key, … More Writing
We were married in a snow storm. The date: February 1st, 1975. The place: The Wawona Hotel’s Sunroom in Yosemite National Park. The winter weather caused road closures. One invitee didn’t make it in. All those who did spent an extra day stranded in the snowy ambiance of Yosemite. Our friend, Bill Cahill performed the … More Fifty Years
“If I knew the way, I would take you home.” The Grateful Dead Thirty five degrees: good walking weather for January. I drove two miles west to the trailhead. The sky was pale blue and smeared with transparent milky clouds. I turned my collar up against a brisk breeze. The forested trail, damp from recent … More Zen Creek
“It’s like déjà vu all over again.” Yogi Berra We drove through the gorge in pouring rain. So much water in December. We stayed at The Hampton, in the Pearl District. It’s close to movies, Powell’s Books, and our son’s apartment. Our niece and brother-in-law would join us in town from his home in the … More Movie Madness
Good Blood, Bad Blood 