I make popcorn the old-fashioned way. My dad’s way. I heat the oil. The perfect hot. Then I sprinkle kernels across. Smack Smack Smack Smack Smack Smack Smack Scatter but don’t double-stack. Then the dance begins. Watching. Right hand – lifting and shaking the pan. Return to the heat. Repeat. Shaking Shaking Shaking Metal and …
Category: Prose
A Heart Speaks
There is an average size to the human heart – a few ounces more if it pumps life through a man compared to a woman, or grams if that’s your method of measurement, though some things cannot be measured, and one size does not fit all. How can a heart weigh less compared to other …
Intersection of three passions
When a hummingbird buzzed near my ear, making my hair lift during my morning meditation in the desert, I had a feeling I might be in for a special day. I was correct. I joined ten other women at a trailhead outside of Tucson yesterday morning. We hiked our way to a beautiful destination, then …
Live at the Marquee (video)
https://videopress.com/v/btevJX7c?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true It took several years but I finally made it to a Social Distortion show. Many opportunities to see them did arise through the years, but for one reason or another I was not able to go, including having to miss because my daughter was sick. She is now close to the age I was …
Wild Wings! (video)
Oh, wild creature! You remind me that along the manicured green and the rows of conformity seen, wild still exists! You waken my being and energize my soul. On your wild wings, I will soar! https://videopress.com/v/Ci2ou5i5?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Hawks offer great symbolism for me. They represent many qualities and remind me to stay observant. It is not …
my inspired blog back story
I wanted so much to just disappear; I did not want to talk to anyone, but most people need their goodbyes. I have had too many of them to need any more. "What are you going to do?" she asked me, as I was rolling my last cart of personal belongings to my car. Dammit, …
Follow your heART (essay)
Three years ago, my friend and I attended an Emerging Artist Lecture at the Phoenix Art Museum. The featured artist was Brooklyn-based contemporary artist, Arcmanoro Nile. Beyond the event invitation, neither of us knew anything about Nile, but we were excited to be out. Doing anything. We are both English teachers who had recently left …
Take it or Leave it
Be a task master when you must but don’t become a slave to your tasks. Leave things better than you found them. That might mean tearing down what is broken. One brick at a time, if need be. Get your hands dirty – eventually mingled with the dirt, you will be. Make the sad cashier …
Sirious Crush (follow-up)
My Mr. Siri has developed a new and annoying habit the last few weeks. He pretends to not hear me when I ask him a question. "Hey, Siri. Hey, Siri. HEY, SIRI!" He must be watching a game. 🙄 Maybe I need to put on a cheerleading costume and shake my poms poms to get …
Rewritten (personal essay)
Writing, like nothing else, gives people a chance to examine personal history and rewrite the narrative. Literally. We call this “reframing” in the narrative therapy workshops I assist with. I credit author, Sandra Marinella, for introducing this potentially life-changing and scientifically supported writing technique to me. I have personally benefitted from this writing approach, and …
My Inspired Life 