Nuts to This

I continued prying nuts as my fingers grew stickier. No worries–the pitch had to be good for my skin.

Snake Blessing

“I trailed the snake fifty feet to a juniper at the corner of the building. Beneath the tree it curled its ungainly body into a corkscrew, raised its head, and fastened its eyes on me, its tail doing a rattle dance.”

A Retrospective: Chi Phat, Cambodia

I have to explain the word “poop.” I’m thinking if he doesn’t already know this, I’ve got a problem. Should I demonstrate, perhaps? Play acting, of course.

Patterns

Dylan comes inside. “What’s the problem? You’re making this a lot harder than it is.” He bats the unit a couple times, pulls out the accordion wings. “There. Screw it in. Done.”

Dancing Like Shirley

“No way!” I screamed inside. “No way you’re getting this mature lady on stage with all these experienced tappers, performing in front of a live audience.”

Belly Dance Debut

I looked at our geriatric audience. Most were in wheelchairs. One woman was snoozing with her mouth open. Another was strangely gurgling.

Song Blessing in Madurai

The woman I’d met just ten minutes earlier smiled, lowered her eyelids, and began to sing–from a place that transcended the human who sat beside me.

Where Was I at Age 23?

I couldn’t go back home. Living with parents was not appealing. I heard a whisper: go west, Terry, go west.