Here in the north, winter can be long and cold. But sometimes that means stories told after dinner, candlelight, long naps, and the change in matter from liquid to various solids, enabling small miracles. Gliding across water, writing messages in the lake. Yesterday, I wasn’t feeling too well. I told a couple of people, andContinue reading “Winter peace”
Category Archives: Photos
Alt Christmas
Our family holidays are special, in every sense of the word. Often, it seems, there’s a whole lot of sitting around and waiting. Case in point, it’s Christmas afternoon and we have yet to crack open the bulging stockings. Two of my brothers are currently wrapping presents in the basement of our sister’s house, usingContinue reading “Alt Christmas”
This Autumn in New York
The last time I went to New York City, I was two years old. I remember very little of it. The turnstiles in the subway, for some reason, stuck out to me. They were just as I remembered, except they were no longer at head height. This time, the subway system was not fully functional.Continue reading “This Autumn in New York”
Thanksgiving weekend
Between the two houses, because my parents bought a place next to my sister, there is a lot of space to sleep and to cook. So we’ve started having holidays there rather than up on the farm, what with its grand total of three bedrooms. Well, fourth of July… that’s different, because you can sleepContinue reading “Thanksgiving weekend”
The little girl and the good mans on the roof
My niece is getting to the age where she can tell stories. Sort of. Her first attempt was: “One time, a little girl, a man, and a lady. Summer.” And along with that, she’s sorting out who is a good guy and who is bad guy, which basically at this point seems to correspond toContinue reading “The little girl and the good mans on the roof”
Waves, meteors and cougars
My family took the opportunity of a recent trip to Oregon to revisit the cold, gray beaches where we grew up. My niece spotted the rolling mass of waves from afar and asked: “Get in it? My feet?” and her parents were happy to comply, while the baby kept warm with my own parents. MyContinue reading “Waves, meteors and cougars”
Chloë on the farm
I’ve written before about our family farm in Iowa, where my Swedish ancestors settled down. My little niece (the sixth generation) had her first explorations of the place at our most recent family reunion. She got to drive the farm truck, ride the tractor, celebrate her second birthday, walk the train tracks, and play withContinue reading “Chloë on the farm”
The Blue Lagoon
If you have a few hours of layover in Reijkavik, I highly recommend taking the 20-minute bus ride to the Blue Lagoon medicinal hot springs. The short ride takes you through fields of dark lava rock, and once you’re there, you will be handed a bracelet that will allow you to program your locker andContinue reading “The Blue Lagoon”
Johanna’s wedding
Back when I was one, I made the acquaintance of Leah, who is on the far right. This was in Oklahoma, where the summers lay thick in the air, suggesting, oppressively, that our parents should go West. Leah was the first of five; I was the first of five. After both families packed up andContinue reading “Johanna’s wedding”
Samuel comes to Oregon
“Chloe,” I whispered “Guess who you’re going to see soon? Samuel!” We had just finished dinner, and I had it on good authority that Chloe’s favorite uncle was 20 minutes away. Chloe started jumping up and down. “See Samah soon! See Samah soon!” The rest of us live in Idaho, spread out over less thanContinue reading “Samuel comes to Oregon”
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