2016 Year of the Red Monkey

In the monkey year of her first 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle, she was a sixth grade student comfortable in T-shirts and boy shorts that covered the crotch and zipped up past the hips. Weeks before sixth grade graduation she announced, “Mom, once I start seventh grade I’m going to dress like a slut.” Retaliating, I…

Love at Last

      There were times when you and Oakland saved me. Every time I needed saving, through the Madison years, I could drive to Oakland in twenty-four hours and feel at home. Remember the Oatmeal Minstrels? All those nights we ate your oatmeal cookies and played our guitars until the sun rose. That Audrey with the…

Mission: Creep

Waking up late into the night, As I sometimes do, I get up and eat a handful of mixed nuts And drink a small glassful of cold milk. Waiting for that to settle, I do some New Year’s resolution Balancing exercises. I’m facing out Onto the street Gyrating awkwardly on one leg, Window frames my…

Just Another Tornado

      My family and I were on our yearly camping trip. This time it was Kauaʻi, my father’s birthplace.       We were stocking up on camping supplies at a small Mom-and-Pop store in Waimea. The store owner was an old high school friend of my dad’s. Their “good old day” talk was pretty boring. Wandering…

This website uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By browsing this website, you agree to its use of cookies.