Category: Personal Status

I got off easy

The liquor cabinet came through unscathed. I’ve been agitated—not really worried, but not at ease either, ever since I left the river house early Tuesday afternoon. That was just ahead of the evacuation orders, but I also needed to get through the storm to make a 3 pm work meeting in Martinez. Just before I… Continue reading I got off easy

Kick it to the curb

In a few minutes, Melanie, Zoe, and I will get on our bikes and ride from Cannery Row to Monterey’s downtown to join the “First Night” New Years Eve festivities. It’s an annual tradition for us, in the way traditions should be—involving, each time, an evaluation of other options, and due consideration of possible variations,… Continue reading Kick it to the curb

Her Name Is Justice

We’d opened all our presents, which were now scattered about the living room along with the wrappings and the remains of our breakfast. I stepped out the front door to the street. I got our old pickup truck started and backed it into the driveway. I opened the camper shell and stood there a while,… Continue reading Her Name Is Justice

NYC, 1983

In 1983, when summer came, I took an opening on the lobster shift. It was full-time work, and I needed to save some money to get through the next academic year. In the cool of the late evening, I’d take the IRT down to Times Square and walk over to the type shop near 38th… Continue reading NYC, 1983

Guerneville Dump

In the space under the house, I had the load all ready to go–trash bags stuffed with debris I’ve removed from the beach over the past year, a sizable stack of cheap inner tubes and other floaties, some of which needed a stroke from the machete to fully deflate, a couple of old TVs, and… Continue reading Guerneville Dump

About the fires

This week I’ve traveled through Santa Rosa repeatedly, on my way between the Bay Area and Forestville. I’ve seen the fires and the devastation, and I’ve been breathing the smoke. We’re now almost six days into the disaster, and the shock is wearing off, so it’s time for lessons learned (or woulda-coulda-shoulda, if you prefer).… Continue reading About the fires

Community

As I usually do on Wednesday nights, I picked up a little before I vacuumed and mopped the common areas. I like to leave things clean for the girls. Then I packed my overnight bag and my work satchel. It was late, and the house was quiet. I couldn’t help making some noise opening and… Continue reading Community

Smite the Music

Ever cringed at an annoying noise that just goes on and on? Ever wished some Act of God would occur to silence it–suddenly and decisively? When I arrived at the river house, last night around 11:30, there was a party going on next door. My neighbors seem like perfectly nice people. When I arrived at… Continue reading Smite the Music