One of my few accomplishments during the quarantining last year (besides an epic four part poem about dust, and five poems about national park grief) involved creating a Halloween costume, buying all the parts, fitting it into a perfect storage container, and even labelling it. Then I put it in my closet, the quarantine never … Continue reading Perfection’s Rough Draft
Holiday
Starting the New Year Right
Last night they fired the starting gun On the year Twenty-Twenty-One. Now with Twenty-Twenty a ghost, Raise your glass and let’s make a toast! May the year ahead soon restore Things ruined by the year before. May we not need to cry, "Undo!" Again in Twenty-Twenty-Two. ~ Camp Host Chad "Cheers!" "Release the balloons!"
Christmas Cheer
I promised to tell you about a Campfire Tales tradition. A few years ago, on a river cruise down the Danube during December, I discovered the joy of gluhwein at the Christkindlmarkt. (Translations: mulled wine; Christmas Market.) Once home, I sought out a recipe (this one, I think it was) and now I make it … Continue reading Christmas Cheer
A Dream and a Prayer
For those of you who celebrate this holiday, I offer this: Merry Christmas! And for everyone, no matter your beliefs, I offer this:
Tradition!
Remember "foreshadowing" from school? Every literature teacher I ever had (and I had a lot) loved foreshadowing like an elf loves sugar. What those teachers never got around to = discussing foreshadowing's counterpart, tradition. If foreshadowing is telling you the story through symbolism before you've heard the story, isn't tradition simply reminding you of the … Continue reading Tradition!
Happy “Ho Ho Ho!” L.A. Days
The Goes Wrong Holiday
The job I was hoping would be a career stepping stone went (to put it nicely) belly up about a month ago. Splat! To mentally get through the end of this year, I doubled down on my Thanksgiving plans, filled with travel and friends and food and fun. ...Can you guess what happened next? Yup. … Continue reading The Goes Wrong Holiday
Memorial Day (2020): Step Into the Sunshine
Happy Memorial Day! Oh, you're not American, you don't see your flag represented, and/or that's not your holiday? Or you are American but you disagree with _____? Well gee then, you're free to go. In fact, I'm sure whatever freedoms you do enjoy didn't come at a cost to you or anyone else, so there's … Continue reading Memorial Day (2020): Step Into the Sunshine
Purple, Green & Gold
In celebration of New Orleans Mardi Gras, how about a quick display of the purple, green and gold? Please remember the Mardi Gras rules: Be proud. Proud as a peacock! But always remember what comes before a fall. Take good notes. Even better, take good pictures. It all goes by in a blur.
Love is All Around
Happy Valentine's Day!
