Among the usual jogging and walking suspects around the reservoir this morning, I saw a woman stretching by a tree. She was squatting with her arms wide open. When I drove several more yards, I saw a tiny toddler racing toward her. I looked back and realized she wasn’t a woman taking a pause in […]

At Comic Con, one of my favorite places in the world to people-watch, I spyed: – Life-size Lego R2-D2, Darth Vader and Chewbacca – Willy Wonka – Two Jedis with Jack-in-the-Box heads – Life-size Ugly Dolls – My little ponys! – More pirates than goths – A girl covered in pantyhose material and not much […]

A girl with angelic blonde curls sat on the floor Indian-style, with a book resting open-faced on her lap. “Please read this, please read this, please read this,” she chanted, loudly, to her mom who was standing beside her, talking on the cell phone. The mom didn’t budge and the girl didn’t stop, not even […]

I was standing before a wall of Halloween costumes when a girl approached me. She was heavy-set and dark-skinned and dressed like she belonged at a Renaissance Fair. “Can I help you find anything?” she asked. “No, thanks,” I said, “just trying to get ideas.” “Okay,” she smiled. Before she could walk away, I asked […]

I first spotted the culprit with another boy the same age. They were drinking frothy drinks in Starbucks cups at the Barnes & Noble caf&#233. One lifted the lid and licked it clean, while the other looked on with delight. All of a sudden, I was craving a tower of whipped cream. Later, the father […]

At Baby Gap, a mother buys her twin daughters matching pink mary janes with floral embroidered trim. They are sitting barefoot, side by side, in a double stroller. The girl on the right cries when her mom hands the shoes to the cashier. “Mommy, my shoes! I want my shoooeess!” she hollers. The girl on […]

Two co-workers pass in the office halls. One asks the other, with a smile: “Are you planning on doing anything for the holidays?” “It’s already the holidays,” he mutters. “No it’s not,” she responds. “It begins next week.” “Yes it is,” he says dryly. “It’s been–” She catches on before he can finish. “Well, I […]

I saw two squirrels flirting this morning. They were dancing on an electrical wire by the lake where I go walking. It reminded me of the Cha-Cha: Forward, then back. Forward, then back again. Just get it on already, I thought to myself as I briskly walked by. Squirrel #1, however, had something else in […]

a man in a maroon t-shirt leaned against a tree trunk curved toward the ground. it was as if the spot had been carved out just for him. –driving home

he was dressed for golf from the knees up. his feet, wearing loafers with gold buckles and dotted black socks, were ready for work. her string of pearls and lavendar sweater set were perfect for high society, but waist down she looked like just another orange county housewife. –blue awning caf