In the heat of summer (in this northern hemisphere), the holiday season seems so far away. Now, as I type, Christmas Eve arrives within the hour. It's that time when we often look back and look forward. What did we accomplish? What did we lose? What will we change? What is to come? For many …
Back in the early 90s, I shared an apartment with one of my best friends, and we listened to this album a lot, especially when we were cleaning up the place. https://www.youtube.com/embed/q_rbjg2k6cI This song in particular has been in my head today. "Sometimes you're the windshield. Sometimes you're the bug." I'm definitely feeling like the …
One more story. This is from before I was born. It is something my mother told me. My dad bought the house before they were married in 1965. He built his first dock. It proved lower than it should've been because soon after, the water level rose. About an inch of water covered the dock's …
I was planning to write about the winter storm here in Texas, the surprise of being without electricity or heat from 2am Monday to 1am thereabouts Thursday. We didn't lose water, thank goodness, but plenty of my friends and students did. Some people are still without water. Aside from the love, dogs provide heat! We …
(where I grew up ~ starlight added) It's the most contemplative time of year. (Well, not for everyone. Plenty of people may find other points in time more suited for contemplation. Some people seem to have no ability to contemplate much of anything least of all their place in the world and the hardships of …
"Just keep swimming," as the fish says. (You know what fish.) And here we are swimming from one year and into the next, and what a strange body of water it is. This week between Christmas and the New Year is a favorite week of mine. I teach, so I'm always off. But unlike other …
Last year, I wrote this to welcome our travel into the New Year. Hardly seems adequate looking back. The Winter Solstice brings us the longest night of the year. It carries us into winter, a time to burrow in and reflect on where we've been, what we've done, and what the future may hold. And …
Twin Peaks: The Return would've been perfect for 2020. Or maybe it would've been the end of me. It's hard to say. Except that I love the way Twin Peaks made me feel--absolutely bewildered and dazed. In real life, I like these feelings a whole lot less. Is this year a dream or a nightmare? …
If a fairy godmother showed up at my door, I wouldn't ask for a ballgown or shoes or an invitation to a ball. I'd ask her to tell me where to begin. I thought I knew, but then I sat down to get to work. These manuscripts and art projects stare at me. Each one …
I've been sitting here for an hour thinking about what to write. I had ideas until I clicked on "Add New Post." Making art and poetry and stories is what I do even if it is not enough. I have added more installments to The Fairy Tale Asylum for those of you reading along. Thank …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 