“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
“Sometimes, what you are trying to hold onto is exactly what you should let go of.” Anonymous The first nurse I knew was my Mother. She received training at the University of Wisconsin. That would have been the mid 1930s, during the depression. I don’t think she practiced her vocation when living in the midwest. … More The Company Of Nurses
“The future happens, no matter how much we scream.” Derek Walcott I meander through my days, indifferent to their purpose. I seek elusive peace. I play golf with friends. Or, I indulge in the calm and quiet of our local library. Sometimes, the Columbia River waterfront beckons. There, I mingle with the dog walkers and … More Summer’s End
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
I drove to the hospital in town. Smoke billowed on the Washington shore of the Columbia River. Like a genie escaping from the bottle of dry forest, it swirled upwards in the morning breeze. I have a standing order for monthly labs through next February. With this bloodwork, we will assess my response to last … More Summer Doldrums
I’ve been off treatment from my cancer, multiple myeloma, since June. I needed a break. I took the risk. I was walking a tight rope, but I felt good. Subsequent blood labs show a steady progression of the cancer markers. I figured that sometime, around right now, I would have to get back on the … More Back on the Juice
Cancer requires one to slow down and simplify their life. Predictability in ongoing routines helps me to manage an otherwise unpredictable disease. Finding peace in a time of uncertainty is the goal. Once a month, I receive a dose of immunoglobulins. It’s a support treatment. It doesn’t kill cancer cells. Instead, it boosts my immune … More Summer Daze
I live in Hood River, Oregon. The river for which it is named flows north from the foothills of the Mt. Hood National Forest. Its three forks converge ten miles south of town. My youngest son and his family shelter in place near that spot. From there it meanders through woods, pastures, and orchards before … More Sorry, We’re Closed
In the early spring in this year of the pandemic we live in a house on a street that divides the city from the county. The trees in the fruit orchards nearby are past peak blossom and west winds scatter their petals onto the pavement. Strangers walk by the house, in groups of two or … More Deserted Streets, Empty Spaces
“Meanwhile, someplace in the world, somebody is making love and another a poem.” From Figuring by Maria Popova I fed hummingbirds all winter. Each time I thought they had departed for a warmer climate, they would appear and take a big slurp from the feeder. I received two petunia plants in September. They continue to … More Today Will Not Be Here Tomorrow
Good Blood, Bad Blood 