Zoltar, Who Isn’t Real

I don’t want to know the future, yet I stop at Zoltar’s machine every time I visit Coney Island. It’s been a while. I still have all my fortunes in a decorated matchbox, in case I need to consult them. It’s part of my fascination with animatronics, robots intended for fun, and the whole Pygmalion […]

Eagle When She Flies

Dolly Parton died, and damnit, why? Today, the day after she died, I put on the important songs for my first hour class to listen to. My assistant and I talked about how great she was, after he had reminded me about “Islands in the Stream,” which I can’t believe I forgot. It was day […]

What Eisenhower Can and Can’t Do

Last time I went to Abilene, I cried. This was an accomplishment. Middle aged me can rarely cry. This time, I had a panic attack over a grilled cheese sandwich. Ha! In the Eisenhower chapel, the famous couple is buried along with their child who died long before they did. I sat and read about […]

The Sounds They Make

I remember during covid there was a time people realized nothing mattered more than art. Was there a new episode of a series you loved? Everything is solved. Had your favorite musician put out a song you could hear? The day is saved. Maybe relationships matter. But relationships are built on stories, which are art. […]