I know night when there is no time tick, tick, tocking and all of our efforts are fading. So sometimes I listen to music in the dark. Bon Iver’s Blood Bank or Manchester Orchestra’s April Fool. Maybe even Eddie Vedder driftin’, driftin’ away. But it only makes me remember that I have a secret I … More watch me
He’s lost it a little. That something that pushed and pushed and pushed him. It was light. But there was deep darkness too. Days did not end or begin. They only moved seamlessly one into another. And now that he is full and filling out—heavier, slower, more patient with the world—he has so much of … More and tonight, there is this
He comes to me. Big, brown eyes. Smiling. “Daddy, let’s pick night crawlers.” “What for?” He does a little jump. Claps his hands. “For fishing!” My boy. Five years old. Tickled with the notion of traipsing through puddles, picking slimy worms. “But we can’t go fishing today,” I say. “Mom will be here soon.” Undefeated. … More after the rain
A man stands outside in pajama pants and a hoodie, while the yellow dog sniffs undisturbed snow under the weighty boughs of the sleeping evergreens. And the fuzzy stars shine. Stuck in the middle of fading in, or fading out, and it’s another night of unsettling silence in a Michigan winter that shows no sign … More last day of February
Good morning. It’s bright, sunny—another day ripe with possibility and opportunity—as long as we embrace what we have and are willing to push on into the unknown. There’s a lot of good to be put into the world and I can do it, but today, all I really want to do is hole up in … More observe, listen, and record
Have fun before they’ve grown up and no longer want to play. Love, so both of you never forget the reason you came together. Sing even if you’re off-key and people stare or start to laugh. Cry when you have to. You should never be ashamed of your feelings. Fight for the good. For your … More an unexpected end
Dollar store stockings, ten cent candy canes, a six-and-a-half foot tall fake tree that we got for free from St. Vincent de Paul. Nearly everything we own is from a bargain basement or has been handed down. Our candle sticks, Christmas lights, stuffed elves. Even the wood in the fireplace was given to us. … More a few days after Christmas
My kids practiced for weeks. Learned the songs, The melodies, timing, and the harmony. And they discovered how beautiful it is Just to sing and feel and share. Not only now, During the season of light and presents and good food and drinks and forgiveness and Love, But always. So, I was pretty fucking proud … More Christmas at School
Merry Christmas (fiction, previously published in the short story collection, A BETTER PLACE, in 2002) Grandma hollers from the kitchen, “Somebody better go upstairs and check on Kelly. I think she’s crying.” I’m 12 years old. Sitting on the big green velour couch. Feeling itchy. I’m wearing this new Christmas … More a very normal christmas
