It was a long train ride from Lima to Cuzco, or maybe it was from Cuzco to Machu Picchu. At any rate, I was on a train with a bunch of Peruvians and my roommate, Kristy. Trains give me motion sickness, as do boats, cars, planes, swings, and carnival rides. It’s a miracle that I’ve… Continue reading Don’t Stand Up!
Category: memoir
It’s Not Rocket Science
The woman who works for me, eleven years my junior and twice as strong, told me that when her hot tub broke, she told a man at her community pool in Hayward that she needed a rocket scientist to figure out what was wrong with it. “I’m a rocket scientist,” the guy said. A good… Continue reading It’s Not Rocket Science
Hey Jude
What is the song you sing when you are in a bind and need to calm yourself down, without the benefit of drugs? For me, it’s a Beatles song — my mantra, Hey Jude. Paul was my favorite Beatle growing up, and he does a great job repeating the lyrics, to the point that if… Continue reading Hey Jude
Late-night Loser
We decided to meet at Bing Crosby’s restaurant in Walnut Creek. I took a seat at the bar, and asked for water. After all, I’d had two glasses of wine already, waiting for him to get off work at the TV station and drive all the way to Walnut Creek. I listened to the jazz… Continue reading Late-night Loser
A Bad Rap
It was a beautiful winter day that Sunday morning. I took the greyhound rescue family pet for a walk in the crisp air while my hubby stayed home with the three children. I walked uphill from my court and took Virginia Lane to Virginia Court, down to the creek. I took the bridge across it… Continue reading A Bad Rap
Naming the Rescue Dog
The day after Christmas I bought myself a belated gift. I got an adult dog to be a buddy to my exuberant two year old dog. I’d been to the Martinez animal services shelter the week before, since they had so many dogs (140) and were giving them away. It was cold and damp at… Continue reading Naming the Rescue Dog
Lost in Napa
I got a rescue dog yesterday. She’s supposed to be a buddy to my two year old lab/border collie/pit bull mix. She is adorable, fast, and sneaky. She has already tried to eat Pepper’s breakfast and has snuggled alone in Pepper’s bed, a fight for the Alpha position. Pepper weighs 50 pounds. New Girl weighs… Continue reading Lost in Napa
Loneliest Study Abroad Ever
After three months in South America and six weeks of student teaching Catholic high school girls, I headed to Burgos, Spain, with 30 students and a handful of professors from Iowa State and the University of Iowa. It would be my way of earning the final credits of my dual degree. Linda, a high school… Continue reading Loneliest Study Abroad Ever
Flyboy Fail
Offutt Airforce Base is just outside of Omaha. You could spot an air force guy anywhere in town because of his close haircut, back in the day of long-haired hippie dudes. A clean-cut guy in a uniform worked for a lot of women, and I was no exception. We met at a dance bar, and… Continue reading Flyboy Fail
Secret Agent Man
He was a familiar face from the dancing circuit. He told me he’d been thinking about me, and that we should dance. As in, no one else could dance with me the entire night. The next night we met and danced again. The day after that we had our first date and danced again. Fifteen… Continue reading Secret Agent Man
