We were five weeks into it. My trips on weekends to visit. S.B. was living on Stieber Street. Doing her best. Trying to teach art to kids that didn’t get regular meals, words of encouragement, or hugs. She was raising a two-year-old. By herself. In a neighborhood that was just a step above questionable. The … More to S.B. on her birthday
Sitting with artists. Drinking Seize the Day. Hearing ideas. Sensing stifled thoughts. Frustration simmers just below the surface. As always. All of us just want to do what we love, but politics always come to play. Challenge us. Keep us in line. But if we are as creative as we feel we are, we will … More the work around
July 17, 2019 8:26 am We are citizens of the Universe. Feeling like we’ve been here before. Energy waves. Vibration. Attracting and repelling other energy. It’s difficult to remain connected—centered, but even more challenging to rediscover connection once it’s been lost because this existence requires a measured amount of disconnect to function. The great trick … More Been Here Before
I lifted the cat and hugged her. Even though she’s shit on our bedroom floor and I stepped in it twice. Barefoot. Once, as I clomped my way to the john in the dark. Bladder so full of vodka, Sprite, and water that I thought I’d never go back to bed. The other, a weird … More the never end
I have many faults. I’m impatient. Lack discipline. I’m too lazy to understand our differences. And so, I get stuck in deep ruts. My wheels spin. I create paranoia. Make problems that don’t exist. Because I’m bored. Like a coyote in a cage. Running back and forth and back and forth and back and forth … More understand
(Please note, this is a creative work. If you need help, please call 1-800-273-8255. Or reach out to family or friends. It’s bleak, but it isn’t worth shutting the light out.) I know how deep it gets. A switch clicks. And there is no coming back from it. Whatever IT is. Could be chemicals. … More devastation like this
Not many men write at night. After wives and kids have gone to bed. Those that do, I suspect, have pain. Or boundless energy. Or are so narcissistic that they don’t know any better. Dan Rather says, somewhere in his new book—and I’m paraphrasing here—that we shouldn’t feel sorry for people. Instead, we need to … More the mightiest of wolves
monarchs © 2012 Brooke Stevens My kids love without conditions. They care about people and animals. Water, dirt and sand, rocks and trees. They care about many things. They have not yet been spoiled by their surroundings. They want to help others. Pick up trash. Recycle. Give. Not only to those less fortunate but to everyone. … More running out of time
Everyone suddenly knows what it is that drives a young man to arm himself with a weapon and extinguish light. Driven by their own beliefs, agendas, and experience, they label, pigeon-hole, and validate. Nobody seems to consider that perhaps all of it is more complicated than what we read and hear and see. We want … More we’d never do that
This morning is a good one. It’s going to be another beautiful summer day in Alpena, Michigan. Clear sky, probably high 70s. Little to no wind. Except for cars passing down 2nd Avenue every so often and crows cawing and heckling a few blocks over, all is quiet in the neighborhood. Julian gassed up with … More church doughnuts
The Crooked Steeple 