Suprise Me

The Chain Letter and the Fender Bender The first story I wrote for Retro was about some rather costly auto body damage I caused when I was driving my husband’s beloved T-bird.   Needless to say he wasn’t happy about that.   (See Fender Bender) Years before we had another fender bender and although that time… Read More

Reader Advisory.  Iron Butterfly’s“In-A-Gada-Da-Vida,” and Simon and Garfunkel are referenced in this piece. If an earworm ensues, counteract it by singing “Bingo” (you know, “there was a boy who had a little dog and Bingo was his name-o…”) Snow days During grade school snow days, Chicky Ross, Danny Corsi, Tommy DiPetro and I used to… Read More

The men were far away and couldn’t stop them. Read More

I was crying for what isn’t, for the work and feeling that has gone into the Christmas music for as long there has been Christmas music, and for the sad, mostly uselessness of it. Read More

With apologies to Bob Dylan. Couldn't resist. Read More

Years ago, while visiting my sister, one Sunday I went to church with her and her family. I remember the pastor delivering his thoughts about how many times in our lives we are faced with choices. Choices which cause us to make decisions as to what path in life we might choose to take and… Read More

I don’t have a fantastic story about bonding with my grandparents.  Unfortunately, being of Japanese descent, there is a solid line between the generations.  The younger are told to “speak only when spoken to” and are not encouraged to be inquisitive about an elder’s history, perspective, or opinion.  It is seen as disrespectful.  So, I… Read More

In June of 2007, David graduated from Stanford and Jeffrey moved up from 8th to 9th grade; a full-fledged high schooler. We felt a family trip was an appropriate way to celebrate and asked Jeffrey where he’d like to go. “Japan”. “Where else?”, we queried, just in case that didn’t work out. “No where; just… Read More

I loved live theater (and still do!).  I saw my first Broadway show at the age of 5 and was smitten.  I imagined that someday I would sing, dance and act my way to stardom.   Read More

Until I was a teenager, I thought a “Sampler” was a box of chocolates. Then my grandmother died and many of her items found their way to us in California. Included in this trove was a sampler — a framed textile and another framed object which I will describe below. A “sampler”, loosely defined, is… Read More