The old pagan folks knew their weather cycles well. They marked the equinoxes — the day when light and dark are near equal — and the solstices — when daylight and darkness turnabout for mastery over our days. But they also marked other, intermediate days and nights in the wheel …
Pouring rain this Tuesday morning. Lightning flashes. Thunder follows… it can never find us here. “You’re my witness, I’m your mutineer.” Pines on the Priory’s skyline were like twiggy Rorschach tests, blotted against the somber grey sky, barely lighter than they are… if inkblots could sway. High winds, and high …
Last week, while I was constantly fingering the car keys, itching to run down to Oregon to collect the two editions of 40 Ways of Looking at Manhattan, I distracted myself by making a little pretend playlist for the publication party. You can’t really play a lot of loud music …
Washington state is well known for what the British call “brighter, showery weather.” The Brits ought to know. Their coasts and rolling countryside are a constant parade of weather patterns. I believe the phrase is meant to convey (BBC Shipping Forecast, correct me): this long, depressing period of overcast downpours …
Since losing Timothy on the autumnal equinox of 2018, my seasonal calendar has hinged on two events loosely fixed to his passing. In November, I go to White Eagle Natural Burial Ground for its All Souls Day honoring of time’s passage. On that day, we who have our dear ones …
This past week, I’ve been meticulously cataloging Timothy’s music: collections, fake books, sheet music, instructional books with varying degrees of comprehensiveness… A few surprised me: The Rodgers & Hart Songbook? Paul Simon’s Greatest Hits? A couple made me smile, like Mancini’s “Peter Gunn” and The Bumper Book of Pub Favourites. …
The other day, while cleaning up some Inquisitive Mind Books listings on Amazon (and making sure An Abecedarium of Ornaments was in good order), I decided to give myself 10 minutes to browse the bajillions of music listings on the site. This wasn’t entirely random browsing. I keep a notepad …
