Coming Up For Air

Tiny Flowers, Lichen, Oak Leaves, Stone. Along the Shore of the Frio River, Laity Lodge, Texas. A Ride Into Grace Last spring–before I knew my grandson would be in California for his sixth birthday, before I knew my son-in-law’s submarine would be in port in San Diego the last weekend of September, before I knew […]


To Engage with Wonder

Dove in Snag. The Incredible Sweetness of Being, Part ElevenRounding a curve on our skinny canyon road, we come upon the stopped SUV, its left hip jutting into the roadway. Rich pulls up alongside and I roll down my window: “Did you break down? Do you need a push?” I point to the wide spot in the shoulder […]


The Day I Forgot the Cheez-its

Cheez-Its. Mom Loved Them. Moving On. I knew the day would come when I’d forget the Cheez-Its. It didn’t come on Easter, when I contributed snacks to a Lagrand family gathering. Nope. On that day I prepared a platter of grapes, dried apricots, a carefully-curated collection of cheeses, various crackers–and a box of Cheez-Its. The […]


Driving by Faith

Our Mountain.  Heading Home in Fog We’ve had springtime weather here, cool and damp, with promises of rain hanging in the sky. I’m leaving work, destined for home. It’s a short drive, as commutes go: the city gives way to countryside in only seven miles. When I reach the cows on a hillside above the intersection […]


On Figuring out Where to Look for Stuff

Old and Chipped. A Brand New MugI am a maladroit shopper. I don’t experience the thrill of the hunt; cunning store displays don’t woo me. So I wasn’t surprised when I had trouble finding a suitable replacement for my big blue-and-white sailboat coffee mug, the one I use at work. I looked and looked, but […]