Blog
Tenakee Time
“Ten times a day something happens to me like this- some strengthening throb of amazement- some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.” – Mary...
Some Thoughts on That Viral Obit
Yesterday morning at about 5:30 I talked to NPR's Here & Now about an obituary making headlines. You would have laughed to see me with the cell phone in one hand, the landline in the other, wearing pajamas, sitting on the bed in the kids' playroom (More soft surfaces...
Monday’s Thought
"We all mess up. We all see through blinders. We all say hurtful things. We all nurture prejudices we don’t recognize in ourselves. Even a full-throated apology won’t erase a colossal mistake. We will never make ourselves perfect. But we can try to make ourselves...
June! Finally.
All the windows are open and I'm thinking about turning on the fan and putting on a sweater. The screens are in now to keep the mosquitoes out, but I can't paint the porch floor yet because the firewood is still stacked on it and we are still burning the stove most...
A Nice Break
I fibbed a little when I said I was off on a writing retreat. I really went out to Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) to surprise my daughter, who is the elementary school principal there. (I couldn't say so because she might have read it.) The Aleutians are a long way from...
Kid and Dog Parties
My grand daughter Ivy had a birthday party yesterday afternoon in the park. All the children in kindergarten were invited for hotdogs and cupcakes,and their siblings and their parents, and the neighbors too, the swim team little ones, and anyone who happened to be at...
It Didn’t Smell Bad
Sewer systems, like septic tanks, are never fully appreciated until they fail. When was the last time you thanked a sewer plant manager? Which may be why the Haines plant operators, Dennis and Scott, seemed so happy to see us and answer our questions. The tour was for...