Category: Uncategorized
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When Correspondence Wasn’t Enough
It was 1969, and I sang and twirled and imagined that my dad was sitting in the green, oversized wicker chair in my grandparents’ kitchen listening to a tape recording of Judy Collins. “My father always promised us that we would live in France.” The lyrics, especially from “My Father,” kept my dad, who was…
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take the trick out of the treat
Let’s say you have a bunch of plain, peanut, or almond chocolate bars left over from Halloween. Or let’s say your grandnephew gave you a solid chocolate Harry Potter frog from Disneyland heralding 19 grams of sugar per serving. You can “magically” cut the sugar grams in half by mixing in coconut oil, which touts…
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Lying on a beach might’ve been easier
During recent travels to Vietnam and Cambodia, my sister and I faced surprising challenges to having perspective. You’d think I’d be practiced at this from experiencing a variety of cultures and having worked in education for 28 years, guiding students to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Growing…
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Students choose cheers not jeers
“You suck!” Stomp, stomp. “You suck!” Stomp, stomp. I was seated in front of a group of young people that were joining in this chant set to music blared over the loudspeaker. A chant obviously sanctioned by the sports organization. I thought to myself, “No wonder my job as an administrator supervising sports and spectators…
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Here’s the dirt on fresh produce
When my hands plunge into the soil, when I bend to pick strawberries and blueberries, reach into a tree to pluck peaches, or snip a head of lettuce, I’m reminded of the origins of food. In the garden, I’ll smile as I recall a conversation, probably in 2003, when I taught English at West Seattle…
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grandparents against graffiti
Recently, I was in a restaurant bathroom and on the wall was scrawled, “Class of 2021” and “Class of 2024.” This graffiti annoyed me because most young people have no concept of the time, cleaning supplies, and paint it takes to remove this blight. I know this because I was once a teenager and probably…
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“American Idol,” a Mirror for Writers
As I’ve watched “American Idol,” I’ve felt a pang of recognition in the artists’ commitment to creating something that’s authentic to their style yet having to adapt to industry standards of success. These vocalists and musicians are quite raw in the beginning of the season, but with coaching, coiffing, and cajoling rise as stars. I’m…
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Road rules used as a child still apply
My three siblings and I walked and biked a lot in our youth. We were a two-wheeler convoy navigating many miles in England, Germany, and the United States. As a child, I remember learning pedestrian and bike-riding rules that kept me safe, and the rules must’ve been effective, because my siblings and I were never…
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How Powerful is the Power of One?
My sister and I, who share a home, swear that we must have been reincarnated from someone who lived through the Depression Era. We’re often amused with our diligence as we wash and reuse baggies and tin foil; save used ribbon, wrapping paper, and bubble wrap; tear dryer sheets in half; wash and reuse plastic…
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Bikinis expose skin and our misguided thinking
As my sister, Karen, and I packed for our trip to Cabo this December, we made a pact to ignore the claims of what’s appropriate attire for “older women” and unburied our bikinis. Mine hadn’t seen daylight for two decades. What prompted this bikini liberation was a trip to LA in August for our uncle’s…
Fedore Writer 