Monthly Archives: December 2009
Parity
We’re getting a little loose with this word, partner. Applying it when we mean something entirely different. And where would we see partnerships modeled? Not my parents. Not ever. They had domains. Provinces. And when I learned about monarchies, I always thought of my parents’ … Read more
Your ambition dress
How do you wear it? Like armor. Or a headdress. How does it drape?
You need it. Your ambition. You need it. Even chimps are using cleavers. And the story you’ll tell me later, when we sip our drinks, and watch the girls prowl the … Read more
Comfort smells
Over time (too much, arguably) I have learned that her smell comforts me. It works best if it’s a shirt, one she has worn enough to sweat in. And then, while she’s away, I wear the shirt, and am fine. And the missing can feel … Read more
Posted in Field Guide, Writing
Tagged afterellen, change, chant, comfort, field guide, inevitable, late, love, missing, relief, review, shirt, smell, sweat
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Compound Complex
On Monday morning, my father left a snarky message asking if I’d borrowed his truck. Since it is the sort of truck that rolls down hills and vanishes, I didn’t worry too much about it. But, in fact, it had been stolen.
Why anyone would … Read more
Gift exchange
Last night we went to a potluck. We took my son, knowing he’d be the only child there, and worrying for him a little. Sometimes adults view kids about as compassionately as they view spiders. But not any of the women at this potluck.
Within … Read more
The lengthening of awareness
So, this chick said something to me last night that I can’t get out of my head. She said the longer you’re in a relationship, the more careful you have to be.
“How do you mean?” I asked.
“You have to be careful of your … Read more
Cite your sources
Turns out, I can’t, in this case. I remember the poem from a batch we received during a poetry workshop with Christopher Howell. The last two lines have existed in my head for more than a decade:
I am going to love myself.
I have … Read more
Posted in Writing
2 Comments
Simple
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” she said, “but sometimes your place is a little like Soviet Russia.”
Of course, she’s right. I don’t have coasters or knickknacks. Clothes hang in the closet, or are folded away in drawers. I have a touch of art … Read more
Posted in Writing
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