Free-Floating Stories+

a recent commercial for Big Brother/Big Sister reminded me of this story I wrote for Mother Earth News Miguel studied the fruit and vegetables laid out on the planks of a make-shift roadside stand. He glanced at the money box with the ‘thank you’ card taped on its side and the stack of re-useable bags … Continue reading City Food/Country Food

An Australian lad has to cut his 'gap year' short  There was a shoe—or maybe more like a boot—careening in the wave-wash far below. It was hard to tell from the fourth floor of the hotel where my wife and I had been effectively imprisoned by a three-day blow. A northerly, I was told. Not … Continue reading Isla Mujeres

a grandmother tells her grandson how to endure a long plane ride A man in the row ahead of them looked over the top of the seat and glared at Milo. “Quit kicking the seat, okay?” he demanded in the form of a question. “This is a thirteen-hour flight…” he added through lowered brows and … Continue reading Hibernating

Random thoughts on staying in line…here and abroad In Italy, there was a pedestal in the middle of Piazza Emanuelle, where a policeman stood to ostensibly control traffic. At times, I would take a cappuccino to an outdoor table just to watch the conductor of the day orchestrate the flow of circular traffic. Whistle in … Continue reading Mind the Queue

a widow completes her grieving in Costa Rica Im trudging up a steep incline through driving mist on the slope to a volcano. Didn't bring warm clothes. My daughters said it would be warm in Costa Rica. Sunny. That I should get away from winter…especially now. I shiver. Who knew? Our driver said it was … Continue reading Fresas

This short-short story, posted this summer, bears repeating for the Christmas joke you might want to share at holiday gatherings... “Hey, Rube, look at that man burning leaves," I said, squatting to my son’s eye level and pointing to the fire that almost singed an above-ground swimming pool. “What’s wrong with this picture?” My claim … Continue reading Homeschooled Humor

a community college instructor gets schooled by his students One of my students had half her head buzz-cut to a ¼” fuzz. The other half hung in a solid black waterfall nestling just short of a gargoyle tattoo creeping out of her tube-top and across her shoulder. My gaze lingered a moment too long and … Continue reading Paisley and Pinstripes

a few thoughts on lagging behind technology A woodchuck popped her head out of a hole on the border of my yard and watched a tractor plow the field next door. The farmer was greedy this year cutting into the narrow rough along the edge where the ground hog had been retreating for the last … Continue reading Groundhogs and Tollbooths

A distant neighbor right across the street I have a neighbor across the road whom I have never met…exactly. He moved in this past spring, alone, as I am. But he’s still working. At least I presume that what he does when he pulls his dually F 150 out the drive and down our rutted … Continue reading Cal

This week’s selection of poems celebrates the upcoming winter solstice—the light and dark, the before and after, the seasons of our lives. Losing Light when I was a child I never noticed October ceilings sliding down to black December nights but now I feel the sunsets of fall crushing the daylight down to the floor … Continue reading Solstice 2018