Caitriona Balfe, Buddy’s Ma An assassination attempt two days ago. A political convention today where some of the most draconian plans are being seriously considered. A good leader stumbling publicly. Record heat. Wildfires. Though I was born in the final two weeks of the Truman administration, I was a Kennedy kid. That world would last … [read more]
Memoir
Memory revisited
Image: Alex Dukhanov John died over eight years ago, but listening to REM brought him back to life last week. I leaked like an old faucet hearing his voice. I remember the specific details of Megan’s, Athena’s, and Ian’s birth days vividly, along with foods we ate, midwives’ names and times of day. As well, … [read more]
Pardoning Saint Patrick
I’m a fourth generation Paddy. My great-grandparents came here in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, I am told from Cork, Ulster, and maybe some islands near Scotland, through Canada and Boston, then on to Colorado. I don’t feel Irish, nor do I have any particular affinity for Irishness. Or, at least … [read more]
An Italian Day in a Chinese Life
From March 10, 2010 I worked Saturday at my office in Kwun Tong, joining friends afterwards in rural Sai Kung for dinner. We walked to a small shop selling fine Italian cheeses, meats, olives, oils, and wines and enjoyed a light snack of prosciutto, formaggio con tartufi and marinated garlic, with home-made bread and a … [read more]
Memory Pain
Trigo Road family, forty years later, Camino Cielo, 2014. Oh, serve me right to suffer Hey, hey, serve me right to be alone Serve me right to be alone ‘Cause I’m still livin’ with a memoryOf the days that’s passed and goneThe days that’s passed and gone – Percy Mayfield 1964 I practice letting go … [read more]
These old boots
As most did, I learned to walk at a young age. I never looked back. I’ve always loved walking. “No, you guys go on ahead. I’ll walk.” To be sure, I took this for granted. Some whom I love have lost this ability to walk altogether. The first piece of creative writing I ever did … [read more]
