Wrecks

Wrecks

My husband and I crawl along the 101 northbound on our way to see author David Sedaris read at UCLA. We treated ourselves to events like this before Mom descended into dementia. But lately, my cell phone has me jumping, and Mom’s facility doesn’t call to share good...
Big Sir

Big Sir

Photo: Chris Leipelt via Unsplash He took me to Big Sur by way of Monterey, where we stayed in Carmel-by-the-Sea, tucked away in separate motel rooms because I was unsure of his capacity for control, not that I had any reason to doubt it other than I knew my body and...
Miracle in Union Station

Miracle in Union Station

The Alphabet Disciple greets me with open arms in the lobby at the train station. “Welcome stranger,” he says, “to the City of Angels.” He’s wearing faded jeans and an L.A. Kings T-shirt. It’s 8:00 a.m. on a Tuesday and I’ve just arrived from my hometown. I’ve got an...
Some People On December 28

Some People On December 28

Photo: Emelissamn / Shutterstock.com Another day of pruning, another fake-out rain. Never halfway to average here in L.A.Donner Pass is snowed in again. Screen door open to the risk of traffic on the Five.If the dog doesn’t chase that dove, the cold might scrub...
Venice Boulevard, March 2019

Venice Boulevard, March 2019

It was the before-times,as we like to say.Before the return of the drought.Before losspiled on lossafter loss. The late afternoon shone goldenthrough my dusty windshield.My teeth vibratedwith the boomof someone else’s musicas I waited for the lightto change. And then ...
Balboa

Balboa

On Saturday morning there was a man on the Balboa Island promenade painting a copy of The Raft of the Medusa. He stood on the sand on the other side of the sea-wall. Aaron and I stopped our walk to watch him. Aaron told him it was a cool painting and that he had just...