Orange and maroon are on the move, like a river burbling down the sidewalk, like burgundy water roiling with golden Koi. From my perch on a grassy hill, I see a sea of wine and oranges, a teeming tide of tee-shirts that streams towards the stadium. I hear the laughter and drunken hoots of Hokie … Continue reading Orange and maroon on the move
I can never capture on film the beauty of light in a forest, shining through the canopy onto a single fern, a pebble, a droplet falling through air from a waterfall. I like to tell myself it’s not that I lack the skill (I do), but because the beauty is bigger than the light, more … Continue reading Thoughts from an emerald forest
Today I braided our daughter’s hair. She is growing her bangs out, and they are at that stage where they are too long to leave hanging but still to short to tuck behind her ear. I attempted a French braid on one side to tidy the scraggly strands, and with her hair pulled back, her … Continue reading Vignettes from a white sand beach
Sticks and stones may break your bones, and words may too, it turns out. At least as far as your mind is concerned. I won’t write a grisly description of a bone breaking – I did enough of that with tooth drilling yesterday – but according to cognitive research explored on NPR yesterday, if you … Continue reading Why creative writing matters: new findings on the brain’s reaction to language
Our son walked in the front door, red cheeked and grinning, after soccer practice. His blue gym bag was slung over his shoulder, and he still wore his shin guards and cleats. “Hey Mom, you know those fart cards your friend gave you?” My local writing buddy, after reading my Lost Balls post, and about … Continue reading The Swart
I was drinking tea a while back – a blend of white tea, orange peel, and exotic spices – and as I stood over the cup, pouring steaming water over the leaves, a delicate fragrance bloomed into my nostrils, and I was in the elegant Orient. I remember the day we bought the tea. I … Continue reading A world of pleasure. In my nostrils.
Butterfly Mind 