The edge of a summer storm passed overhead breaking the monotony of blue sky. Patches of clouds cast temporary shade as they moved, releasing a misting drizzle, which fell upon us like a celestial blessing. Birds sang the glory of the day. Stephanie and I relaxed in the large pool. She rested her head against… Read More Sierra Hot Springs
Thoughts pour in; they swirl, forming a current, pulling more thoughts into the depths, growing tumultuous. They darken and become dangerous. I am caught, swept in by the undertow. It’s loud and I can’t escape. I try to distract myself with other people’s stories, but more words and information makes it worse. I resent the… Read More I Come Back to Myself
The night before I left town, I needed to clean my house. I hate returning to a mess because it doesn’t feel restful, and the last thing I want when I get home is to feel like I have chores to do. Luckily, my house is fairly-tiny, and doesn’t take long to clean. I started… Read More The Broken Pot
I drive down Dog Bar Road along narrow twists and turns. I pass green, rolling hills; Victorian farm houses with blossoming trees and horses out front; abandoned barns that are hauntingly romantic; and ponds that are full from recent rainstorms. In the distance, a group of female turkeys step out of the lush greenery and… Read More Save Bear River
I live at 2,500 feet on my aunt and uncle’s property and more often than not, snow in the forecast only brings disappointment; yet, one night a cold front descended, and at dawn, I awoke with the sun, and seeing a brilliant dusting on pine needles outside my window, I leapt from my bed and… Read More Drought Damage
I recently purchased Hank Meal’s, The River, a local’s guide to hiking trails surrounding the Yuba River. On a rainy afternoon, my friend, Kitten, and I got cabin fever; we opened Hank’s book and chose the Rock Creek Nature Trail (located in the Tahoe National Forest) as our tonic. Once the site of a lumber… Read More Rock Creek Wisdom
I started practicing yoga in my teens, and over the years, I have done my fair share of sun salutations. In my personal practice, I sometimes use a few to warm my body, but I don’t really enjoy them. So when I heard we were doing 108 sun salutations at the end of my… Read More 108 Sun Salutations
Decorated and adorned — the mundane made profound — neighborhood houses become gingerbread with thick, clean frosting on the roofs. No longer differentiable between old or new, run-down or well-kept, each dwelling takes on an air of elegance. Icicles hang from awnings like stalactites. An enchanted child appears behind my eyes. We make tall footprints… Read More Snowflakes
I swung open my parents’ front door and gave Ryan, my childhood friend, a bear hug. “It’s been a while,” he said, standing next to his road bike. “Almost two years! And of course you came on bicycle. What should we do?” “Well, I have an idea.” “As always,” I smiled. He laughed, “I got… Read More Art and Trespassing
Nostalgia washed over me as I drove into Los Osos at sunset. I pulled into my friend Nikki’s driveway; it was my first visit to her new home. “I can’t believe I haven’t seen you since the Burn,” she said, giving me a hug. “It’s been too long!” I agreed. She hopped with excitement. “Come… Read More A Day in Los Osos
