I’m getting on a plane in a couple hours, and I miss you already. I’ll be gone for almost two weeks. While I’m gone, will you do me a favor? Tell me a good thing. Tell me twenty. Tell each other good things every day, like “That’s a nice shirt” or “You really listen to […]

I knew there was a long list of To-Do’s starving for my attention, but when Rima offered me a glass of red wine I couldn’t resist. I stretched out on the futon, took small, slow sips, and talked to her and Eric about art and writing and love. And when they craved a smoke, I […]

I was thisclose to riding a horse on Sunday. I have never gone horseback riding and I am a little bit terrified of the idea, which is why I knew I had to do it. Okay, so I’m not that brave. First, I tried to weasel my way out of it. “You guys can go,” […]

As if my love for the Fishers didn’t run deep and wide enough. Now I have two hundred reasons to adore them even more: Six Feet Under: Better Living Through Death, a 208-page history of the family’s life. The beautifully designed and bound book includes such treasures as Nathaniel’s letters to Ruth from Vietnam to […]

My dear, Today I have a request. I’m leaving for vacation in less than two weeks and I want to bring a book or five with me. I don’t want to tell you what kind of books I like. Rather, I am curious to know what kind of books you like. If you were going […]

The days are swirling with activity, and I feel summer breathing down my neck. It seems like yesterday that I was making plans for the oh-so-distant months of June, July and August. Now it’s mid-May, soon I’m going to the Philippines and soon after that I am going to work on a new project that […]

ForgetfulnessThe name of the author is the first to go followed obediently by the title, the plot, the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel which suddenly becomes one you have never read, never even heard of, as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the […]

joy“don’t cry, it’s only music,” someone’s voice is saying. “no one you love is dying.” it’s only music. and it was only spring, the world’s unreasoning body run amok, like a saint’s, with glory, that overwhelmed a young girl into unreasoning sadness. “crazy,” she told herself, “i should be dancing with happiness.” but it happened […]

i carry your hearti carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world (for […]

Wild GeeseYou do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes […]

It’s never too late to celebrate a good thing, so in honor of National Poetry Month — which was last, not this, month — and especially because I love the idea of keeping a poem in my pocket, I’m going to post a poem a day this week. Enjoy! Today’s poem >>

made in the u.s.a.i think i lost my father’s jacket. the beat up navy blue one, with its threads all worn, sleeves all stained and zipper broken. it was his first jacket here in america, the cloth as old as i. he doesn’t even know i’ve been wearing it, dragging it to school with me, […]