“There is nothing to do. There is nowhere to go.” Thich Nhat Hahn I had an appointment with an oral surgeon in The Dalles, OR. It’s 20 miles east of my home in Hood River. The morning sun made freeway driving difficult. At one point, I gunned the engine to speed by a cluster of … More Riverwalk
Stray cats prowl our neighborhood. Each day, I leave a small portion of kibble on our porch. I place it under the eaves, sheltered from rain and gusts of wind. The food disappears. I’ve noted two visitors. One is burly. He has the demeanor of a New Jersey mobster. He must have a home. His … More Lost and Found
“How many times can a man turn his head, and pretend he just doesn’t see?” Bob Dylan Wind and more wind scours the Hood River Valley. It’s an elemental force for which we are known. The Columbia Gorge is the largest air transfer route through the Cascade Mountains. When the prevailing winds return in the … More Blowin’ in the Wind
Spring Trees, the audio version. Click here and follow along with the text. First, a few notes. I’ve been reading Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl. (thanks Ginger!) and The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. Today, May 10th, 2024, my brother Earl/Butch turns 80. He has Alzheimers Disease and lives in a facility in … More Spring Trees
“How long must we live to learn how to survive?” Jhumpa Lahiri from Roman Stories March chores. I rake leaves. I pick up broken branches from January’s storms. I gather the debris for composting. Crocuses peek out from under the white bark birch. I rest for a bit. I drag out the tiller. I turn … More March Chores
“Why are we not better than we are?” Eric Trethewey from Frost on the Fields, a poem I walk the streets of my neighborhood alone. I search for harbingers of spring. I find omens instead. Crumpled masks litter the gutter. A feral cat skitters away to a hidey hole. It’s the mucky middle of winter. … More Mid-Winter
“… Love words, agonize over sentences. And pay attention to the world.” Susan Sontag A light rain falls. I stand in the narrow street taking pictures. It’s Karma Wednesday at The New Parkway Theater. Pay what you want, accept the consequences. The theater brightens a sketchy neighborhood in Oakland. Potholes mar the roadway. Roof gutters … More Oakland 2023
“It’s a messed up world, but I love it anyway.” Greg Brown from Two Little Feet Successive storms stagger into the valley. Swollen rivers rush from the foothills to the Columbia. On the street, fallen leaves coalesce in soggy stews of cellulose. They stick to the shoes of holiday shoppers. Downtown, the greasy residue adorns … More The Glory And The Pity
“A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.” Carl Sagan Saturday dissolved in a murky soup of bad weather. A November storm drenched the valley. Rain fell, lightning flashed, and thunder boomed. Me and my cat, Spanky, stayed indoors. It was the sensible thing to do. We ate, we napped, and I … More November Rain
“… these things we depend on, they disappear.” Louise Gluck (1943-2023) My son is building his house. He and his wife and two children live in the Upper Hood River Valley. I’ve been making periodic visits to view and photograph the process. The early stages amaze me: the re-shaping of his property, digging trenches, and … More Artful Dodgers
Good Blood, Bad Blood 