Suprise Me

She was the fun aunt – the one who let me do everything my mother forbid. Read More

To be honest, I hate recycling. If the future of the planet didn’t depend on it, you can be sure I wouldn’t do it. It’s so complicated and way more work than just throwing stuff out. But since I have grandchildren who I am hoping will be able to breathe the air, survive the increased… Read More

Twenty-eight years ago this week, danger came in the form of domestic terrorists striking Oklahoma City. Read More

Some dates are more memorable than others. Read More

Silence – A Sonnet   Oh, sacred hush, a balm for weary ears No traffic roars, no children shriek and play A gentle sigh, the rustle of dried leaves A symphony of quietude that lasts all day But wait, a fly! A buzzing, maddening drone Circling my head with taunting, tiny wings This blissful peace,… Read More

In the Abstract In the early years of the 20th century a handful of European artists including the Russians Wassily Kandinsky and Kazimar Malevich,  the Dutchman Piet Mondrian,   and a lesser-known Swedish woman named Hilma af Klint began producing art with no attempt to represent external reality.   Rather,  they used shapes,  forms,  color,… Read More

There were songs for the sisters, the grandchildren, the in-laws, and the whole “cast”.  We thought they were pretty clever. Read More

Still Life My mother Jessie was a damn good pinocle player. (See My Game Mother) But she was also a wonderful artist.   A fine arts major in college,  she later studied at New York’s renown Art Students League with the Russian-born artist Raphael Soyer celebrated for his paintings of social realism. Jessie went on to teach… Read More

White Shoulders – for Aunt Frances I’m from a small family and have always felt close to my aunts and uncles.  Now, like my parents,  they’re all gone. (For more about my family see  Call Me by Their Names) My parents were each the middle child of three, and both had strong bonds with their… Read More

I wish our country’s leadership and values embodied less of Soupy Sales and more of Fred Rogers these days. Read More