Tweet“Compulsory” Responding to the waving arm of a village woman clad in the traditional clothing of shalvar pants and long white head scarf, the dolmus driver pulled over. As the door to the mini-bus rolled open, the woman leaned inside and asked in … Continue reading
Tweet“Hippy Hollyday“ At the start of December, we made an advent calendar, a way of counting down to the Big Day. Each of us took a little time to paint, draw, and glue our contributions. Groom’s little cartoon panels were … Continue reading
Tweet“Unleavened Barn Raising” Only five months later can I comprehend the shock that overtook me when we arrived in Turkey. Had we first stopped in Istanbul, the landing might have been softer and felt more gradual in terms of West-to-East, … Continue reading
Tweet Every. single. day. I think anew, “I don’t foresee ever getting over this place.” All of these pictures were taken within four minutes’ walk of our house. Just imagine the delights if one were feeling particularly hardy and ventured a five … Continue reading
Tweet“Open Book, Open Wallet” At twenty-six, with a newly-minted graduate degree in hand, I got a full-time job teaching writing at a four-year university. My salary was $17,000 per year. It wasn’t for nothing that one of my esteemed college … Continue reading
Tweet“Songs of Experience” The (semi) Romantic poet and artist William Blake is certainly no Mary Oliver to me, but I do enjoy the fact that he could invite someone over to “look at his etchings,” and he’d actually have something … Continue reading