Picture me. The old-time circus strongmanin a skintight pink and black striped leotard.Big I am, yet light on my feetin thin black, ballet slipper-like high tops. My calves, quads, glutes, lats, pecs, and biceps ripplingas I pump my armsand sprint down the railroad tracksalong the river. I left my 1000-pound barbell behind,spanning a ditchto serve … More Circus Dream [An experiment in poetry]
What words of a loved one echo in your mind often? This month marks nine years since dad left his body. I saw him in a dream recently. We were in his welding shop out behind the house. The wood stove was warming up the space. Before us was a large boat frame that he … More Welder’s Daughter
Caroline Patterson spoke and gave a workshop at the Whitefish Community Library last month. She had us start with a 10-minute warm-up prompt: Pick a color or a food and riff on that. The idea was to go into detail on something. I chose a color that opened up a flood of associations, memories, and senses … More The Green One
The Wisconsin snowbirds’ skin was a leathery Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle-like texture. They had deep tans, a patina from years outdoors poolside coaching swim teams. They must have spent hours gliding through the water, arms alternating strokes with a steady rhythm as sure as a metronome beat. They were beautiful. Their upright movement on land … More Poolside Patina
We said goodbye to our beloved 15 year old mighty mouser, Clover, last Tuesday. Clover was found on the west side streets of Pensacola, Florida around 2007 and fit in the palm of a human hand. The Watts family nurtured her into an 8 pound, strong feline companion who bossed around her canine Lab and … More Clover, Small and Mighty
Don’t let your silly dreams Fall in between The crack of the bed and the wall -My Morning Jacket, Bermuda Highway Outside of work, within the span of a week I happily responded to requests of 3 friends to proofread their creations: a cover letter and two short stories. These are experienced writers/editors. My husband … More My Bermuda Highway…and yours
Lake swimming, Shucking free our deadened selves, Like snakes and corn do, Our bodies tore off swimming suits, And all the old notions… Laura Veirs, Lake Swimming from Year of Meteors On a warm afternoon in south Alabama I walked barefoot up the west side of our pasture along the fence shaded by grand live … More Like Snakes & Corn Do
I was in the passenger seat blazing north at 75 miles per hour on I-95 somewhere between south Florida & Gainesville when I first read about the practice of the 3 words via a newsletter from Chris Brogan. At time of my first go at it December 2019 I had set big life changes in motion. … More My one word for 2022
Here is the lesson I learned from my 1st job. What is yours? I am 14 years old & it is the last day of my summer job at the J Farm in South Alabama. I am grateful to be here, proud to be working hard all summer, harvesting corn, washing vegetables, filling the bins, … More Rise & Shine: Down on the Farm
It was a cool, crisp late autumn evening in northwest Florida. We’d just stepped outside from a lovely candlelit house. We were leaving our friend Maria’s birthday party. Like other guests we’d brought a dish. Days beforehand, my boyfriend, Hunter decided he wanted to bring “the pink salad,” a dish his mom made when he … More It Ain’t That Kinda Party
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