Grizzly Bear!

In 2008 you take your wife, Liza, and your teenaged kids to Alaska. You stay near the Princess Lodge in a fishing cabin on the Kenai Peninsula. It’s the third week of July, so it doesn’t get completely dark until around midnight. After dinner you suggest a hike in the woods along the Kenai River… Continue reading Grizzly Bear!

Fair Weather Boyfriend

My first boyfriend after my separation and eventual divorce was happy to go house hunting with me. When I actually bought one, he promised to help me move. He had a pick-up truck lined up from his buddy for the breakable stuff, and everything was a go. The realtor called the day before moving day… Continue reading Fair Weather Boyfriend

Jeff Bezos Rules the World

Macy’s, Sears, J. Crew, Radio Shack, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Payless Shoe Source, closed or closing stores in 2018. Borders, Barnes and Noble, and indie bookstores everywhere are closing. Mom and Pop shops are no more. What Ebay and Etsy did to antique stores, Amazon is doing to all the rest of the brick and mortar… Continue reading Jeff Bezos Rules the World

Stupid Is as Stupid Does

Lesley was a college freshman at University of the Pacific in Stockton, when a big football player type guy asked her on a date. Lesley had already met his roommate, so she thought she was safe with Chad and said yes. Chad took Lesley to a party, but when his roommate came up to say… Continue reading Stupid Is as Stupid Does

Almost Toast

Marlene and her friend Beth came out to California from New Hampshire after college to work for Bank of America. They were roommates, and each made a new friend at work. Each new friend brought another friend to the party (plus one more) until they were a group of seven recent college graduates, living in… Continue reading Almost Toast

Baby It’s Cold Outside

My large chorus has performed Baby, It’s Cold Outside twice in the past week. A classic holiday tune, it has been called rapey by Millennials online. As in, the guy wants to date-rape his gal with the swell-looking hair. Baby It’s Cold Outside was written in the 1940’s as a romantic song of seduction. But… Continue reading Baby It’s Cold Outside

Ruthie Ann’s Designing Man

Ruthie Ann worked as a graphic designer in Cortez, Colorado. She met an architect named Edmond through her position on the design review board. He was about twenty years older but smart and distinguished looking with his gray hair and eyes. She liked the work he’d done around the Durango train station. Edmond asked Ruthie… Continue reading Ruthie Ann’s Designing Man

Teddy Bear With Back Hair

When I lived in Omaha for eight years in my twenties, I dated almost all the eligible men I met in my age range, at least once — shorter guys, smokers, non-dancers, younger guys, poorer guys (I was a school teacher!) and guys with facial hair. But I NEVER dated a guy with back hair… Continue reading Teddy Bear With Back Hair