The Christmas that Won’t Go Away

Ornament Boxes. January 2, 2012 Christmas Won’t Fit in the BoxA photo essay in honor of my friend Nancy Owen Franson, who loves Christmas more than anyone I know. The day after New Year’s Day is a good day to undress the tree, box up Christmas, hide it away until next year. But this year, […]


The Christmas that Won’t Go Away

Ornament Boxes. January 2, 2012 Christmas Won’t Fit in the BoxA photo essay in honor of my friend Nancy Owen Franson, who loves Christmas more than anyone I know. The day after New Year’s Day is a good day to undress the tree, box up Christmas, hide it away until next year. But this year, […]


A One-Night Stand with Fear

Blown Over Waiting out the WindWe listened as the wind screeched down our narrow canyon. The reporters had warned us, as breathlessly as if they’d donated their own air to the cause, that this windstorm was to be The Big One: “Hurricane-force gusts,” they promised. Through the howl we heard booms and thuds. I half-expected to […]


An Orange County Autumn

Fire Station, Trabuco Canyon. November, 2011. Oh Yes We Do! Every fall, a litany arises from transplants to Southern California: “There is no autumn here!”  Pundits reply that we have two seasons: Green and brown. But I’m here to tell you that fall does come to Southern California.  Friday nights at high schools, Saturdays at universities, […]


An Orange County Autumn

Fire Station, Trabuco Canyon. November, 2011. Oh Yes We Do! Every fall, a litany arises from transplants to Southern California: “There is no autumn here!”  Pundits reply that we have two seasons: Green and brown. But I’m here to tell you that fall does come to Southern California.  Friday nights at high schools, Saturdays at universities, […]