Tag Archives: Portland

Wilhelm’s mausoleom

Posted on May 29, 2018 by

I stopped by the dry cleaners, then the car wash — vacuumed out the pollen, the cottonwood, pine needles and dandruff, the nail clippings and dirt, then gathered wood to make a fire later, shook off the spiders from the … Continue reading →

Posted in death, Memoir, musings, prose, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

The god of only children

Posted on May 28, 2018 by

For some reason when I’m in Portland I feel like I can be more myself, maybe because no one knows me here. I wake and walk down César Chávez to the Starbucks in the cool, marine air. And remember the … Continue reading →

Posted in death, prose, travel, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Moss-petting in Portland (March, ’18)

Posted on March 22, 2018 by

Signs for deaf children, hand-painted Volvo’s, driving into Portland on a Friday night. By morning the rain had brought down the cherry blossom blooms like confetti, and the children across the street were young enough they could walk on walls … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, prose, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Discreet Music | January 14 (Portland, OR)

Posted on January 17, 2018 by

The funny thing about ambient music is, I can play it over and over again, and never really notice if it’s the same song. And then, there are times I’ll recognize the artist and feel sophisticated, like when I’m seeing … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

“A lifetime in three days”

Posted on July 4, 2017 by

All is quiet on Independence Day, oddly. In my hammock with a book, leaves scitter across the sports court and could be the dog, but she’s inside. Pre-fall, even now. No need for sunscreen, there’s a thin band of clouds … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Dead Souls | Field notes from the Pacific coast

Posted on June 8, 2017 by

This is a series of posts I started in late May and plan to continue for 40 days, with a goal of hitting 50,000 words by July 5 (now +25% complete!). It’s inspired by a three-day solo trek on the … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, identity, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

As several disturbances head our way

Posted on September 1, 2016 by

I looked up and my family was gone, lost in the folds of Powell’s bookstore, Portland, the litmosphere they call it, and I wandered the displays sniffing cakes of handmade soaps, glassware designed for gluten-free beer, branded. All the Portlanders … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, travel, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments