Contemplative and reflective, I let my mind slip into neutral even though the motorized conveyance’s gear selector was in the drive position. I was driving in a cocktail of weather perfection, stirred, not shaken—but just my soul, which incidentally had a BAC of .000, not counting the possibility that my breakfast orange juice was teetering…
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Late Summer
As the summer wanes, the camps nearby are empty from the giggles, music, and loud, late-night UNO games. Chainsaws are silent until cooler weather, but the bass along the shore chime in with a splash now and then. Chirping crickets overpower the buzz of mosquitoes, and the crows become more brazen in their hollering from…
The Soft Tap, But a Firm Grip
Tonight, as it often does, the softer hands of grief tapped me on the shoulder while I was driving into a sunset. I’d frequently go to see my Dad and Mom on nights precisely like this. After an ice cream, I’d swing in for a dooryard visit. A ten-minute hello to catch up, but nothing…
Tents, Tarps, Bees, Berries, and Birds
Lying in bed this morning, listening to the raindrops tickle the tarp that topped off the roof, my mind wandered to tents— canvas tents. The stripping and shingling took longer than the time allotted; it is understandable. Showers arrived, unmentioned by those tasked with keeping us abreast of weather events in our area. The meteorologist…
Oh, How Good It Can Be
Follow me north or east, for that matter; I can take you somewhere where you’ll forget how bad it is because you’ll see how good it can be.
Alternate Route
“I noticed three distinct but separate scenes on that road—each Americana diorama included people chatting outside, seated in lawn chairs.”
Pillows
The months-long delay between Dad’s death and the funeral service felt like a good idea. I firmly believe in making decisions based on facts, not feelings. In this case, my sibling-centric vote fell between feelings and facts. Delay seemed like a good idea. As Friday closes in, I cradle some regret. I should have voted…
Memorial Drive
The sun’s late afternoon trajectory, a fiery arc, pierced through the dense forest on my right. As it descended lower on the horizon, the trunks and branches, like sentinels, intermittently blocked my view, teasing the shards of light that danced and shimmered as I pressed on, maintaining a steady pace. The Memorial Day wind, at…
Fiddleheads
We fed on furled fronds from a fledgling fern; fantastic they were. The S.O., a female, fawned over the ferns since arriving in Maine from further south. “Can you grab some fiddleheads in your travels? Please. I can’t get them down here,” she said. “I am waiting for the roadside sellers, dear. None have revealed…
Negligible Acts
I’m trying to be a good steward. My plan won’t change the world, and in the interest of full disclosure, I don’t do it every single time, but it’s a start. Frankly, sometimes, I forget. I take my shopping carts from the parking lot corral instead of from the static display inside the store. Pushing…