In the Imaginary Future

Written with my Thursday night group with the prompts:  imaginary future, what will become of me, more than a little alarmed, flirting and fluttering, let’s get physical, light that you cannot see, what is surrender?—joining the winning side, a Sunday afternoon, living with it, huge, impetuous and prickly, Sweet William—my guitar, charming dork, cat “In … Continue reading In the Imaginary Future

The Mask Maker’s Daughter

Written with my Thursday night group with the prompts:  Zelda is in heat, until next time, tomatoes in the front yard, tell me what you want, straight faced, remember when, professional, phone store, old stale coffee, my turn, mysterious holes, in Russia, mosquitos, mask maker’s daughter Zelda sat on the porch in the heat of … Continue reading The Mask Maker’s Daughter

Those People

Written with my Thursday night writing group with the prompts: aimless love, if you live long enough, fireworks, dead skunk, dream, Mom would give him money, okay, revealing, taking a detour, pitter patter of rain, I wonder what happened, if I had it to do all over again, the school principal, free will, feel left … Continue reading Those People

Meredith and the Cheetah

Written with my Thursday night group with the prompts:  strange person in your bed again; driving a taxi; cat suit; interesting way to make a living; letter to human friend; faces of dead men filter through his brain like sunrise; first day of 3rd grade; write about what you don’t know about what you know; … Continue reading Meredith and the Cheetah

Morning Song

Jason came up out of the subway on Tuesday when there was a break in the storm to busk in the space between the Dunkin’ Donuts and the bus stop.  He came equipped with a borrowed guitar, his own harmonica, and a smashed brown fedora he’d owned for decades.  He called it his magic hat:  … Continue reading Morning Song

Making Up Stories: my spiritual practice

This is an updated reprint of a Thanksgiving post from a few years back. The theme is gratitude, and that never gets old. Do you remember that scene in Out of Africa when Meryl Streep, playing Karen Blixin (later known by her nom de plume Isak Dinesen) was hosting Robert Redford and Michael Kitchen on … Continue reading Making Up Stories: my spiritual practice

Beautiful Melvina

Written with my Thursday night writing group with the prompts:  beautiful Melvina, giggles again, untethered soul, gardenias in hair, watching cartoons, unremarkable bone, human life will flicker out, when I think of returning to my mother, when I look in my mother’s eyes, quirky details, go ahead and pat me down, she sort of smiled, … Continue reading Beautiful Melvina

Manna

Mama’s family never could afford to send her to college.  From as far back as I can remember, she promised it would be different for me.  “You are smart and you are beautiful,” she’d tell me.  “You are going to go far.” Of course I believed her.  Why wouldn’t I?  I didn’t know it cost … Continue reading Manna

Never Be Robbie

Never Be Robbie Written with my Thursday night writing group with the prompts:  he died ten years ago, I just want to win something, surrounded by her men, don’t get up stay there, many ways to escape, to this day, pictures of last Christmas, the look of panic was still present in her eyes, it … Continue reading Never Be Robbie