Trapped at a Rally
By the time they had been holding court on stage for nearly an hour, my blood was boiling. I was being held hostage, in broad daylight, in a public park in Dunedin, Florida. The gathering… Trapped at a Rally
Sleepless in Salvador
A half-block from my balcony was a lighthouse, a 75-foot tall structure that dominated my view. I photographed it at all times of the day — at sunrise, highlighted in gold, and sunset, in pink.… Sleepless in Salvador
You can dress her up
Back in the 80’s, Sam Devlin designed a beautiful sailboat with classic lines. He named her Nancy’s China, a name I found strange but pretty. I didn’t find out the reason for the name until… You can dress her up
Taking the law into your own hands
Every fall, around election time, the signs sprout like weeds in the median of Montlake Boulevard. Democrats, Republicans, ballot initiatives — hundreds of political signs of every color. And every year, Jeff drives along, indignant,… Taking the law into your own hands
Beaming a little sunshine on Cuba
If you could travel anywhere in the world next month, where would you go? If money was no object, if the season and weather were right, if you could take the time from your commitments… Beaming a little sunshine on Cuba
Memories of Brazil
Here in Seattle, it’s pouring buckets today. I turn up the heat, put on a pop CD called “Rouge,” and instantly, I’m transported to Brazil. In my mind, I smell the tropical vegetation and the… Memories of Brazil
From shock and awe to quagmire: 3 years in Iraq
A good friend of ours, Bill Brown, recently pointed out that the U.S. was only involved in World War II for 3 years and 10 months. In the years since then, Americans have not shown… From shock and awe to quagmire: 3 years in Iraq
The gift of a memorable zucchini
When I was 17, a woman gave me a zucchini. I remember it like it was yesterday. Why are you laughing? What’s so funny about a zucchini? Zucchini jokes in the summer are like fruitcake… The gift of a memorable zucchini
The Cajun Food Crisis
I was lying in bed last night, thinking about the devastation of New Orleans. Our five months there, just over a year ago, seem like yesterday. Suddenly, my thoughts turn to mustard. My eyes pop… The Cajun Food Crisis
The sky really IS falling
Looking back at the essays I’ve written for this site, I see a lack of controversial topics. It’s time to change that. I am angry, I am sad, I am frustrated. My dream of early… The sky really IS falling