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Hippy Hollyday
“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 my favorite addition to the calendar, so I asked him to scan them in and…
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Unleavened Barn Raising
“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, but since we flew straight to Cappadocia (one hour flight from Minneapolis to Chicago; ten…
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Saturated
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 minute expedition.
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Open Book, Open Wallet
“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 professors characterized the teaching of composition as “working in the armpit of the university.” However,…
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Songs of Experience
“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 to show that visitor upon arrival that was, you know, etched. I also like that…
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Principium Contradictionis
“Principium Contradictionis” Our Minnesotan friends Pamm and Ed have been touring Turkey the last week or so and are on their way to spending a few days at our house. Based on Pamm’s quick emails of update, I’d say they’re getting the full Turkish experience, wherein everything they expected hasn’t been delivered, which then makes…
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Occidentally on Purpose
“Occidentally on Purpose” Returning to Turkey after a few weeks away caused in me neither joy nor dread; it was just the next thing we were doing. I did discover, though, that it was jarring to hear Turkish again after readjusting my ear to more familiar languages. Within a couple of hours, though, I felt…
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Then Now Begging the forbearance of long-term readers here, as I re-run a post from one year ago, originally written in honor of my tenth wedding anniversary. Now, as we hit #11, here it is again.—————————————————– “Bestill” My dad was the person who taught me to be comfortable with silence. We could get in the…
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You Know How People Broadcast Images of Glowing Fires on Their Television Sets, Rather Than Sitting in Front of an Actual Fireplace? Right About Now, I’m Left Feeling We Could Have Broadcast Images of The Eiffel Tower on the TV, and Our Kids Would Have Enjoyed It Just As Much
“You Know How People Broadcast Images of Glowing Fires on Their Television Sets, Rather Than Sitting in Front of an Actual Fireplace? Right About Now, I’m Left Feeling We Could Have Broadcast Images of The Eiffel Tower on the TV, and Our Kids Would Have Enjoyed It Just As Much” So let’s see: one overnight trip…
