Walked into a bar in Las Cruces, saw a young man sitting at a table, tattoos over most of his exposed skin head, face and arms protruding from dirty biker leathers. He was reading a book. Reading a book. We … Read More
Finding Wild
No car. No motorcycle. Not even a mule. The mountain doesn’t care. The sun fled the scene like a burglar, tossing back its last rays into the dusk. Cold crept into the mountain’s desert cusp even faster than darkness. Safety … Read More
Services Ahead
Next exit. An oasis to behold after traveling through ice and snow and wind. A forest of gasoline signs offered my car the lure to drink deep from a selection of gas pumps not seen since the ‘60s. But the … Read More
Outhouse Robinson
7th grade art class. My teacher, Bessie Fredericks, asked us to create our own nametags using picture symbols to tell our names. I drew an outhouse (John), a robin (robin) and the sun (son). Bessie was fearsome even when calm. … Read More
12,000 Poles Down: Bootheel Disaster
Long before The Weather Channel began naming continental storms, this one will be remembered as The Ice Storm of ’09. Its widespread devastation covered Missouri’s Bootheel like a glacier. In the two counties that form the heel of the boot, … Read More
Ancient Island Hopper
Headed toward Key West. I remember the old road. Imagine driving that narrow bridge trying to outrun a hurricane.
Seven Mile Bridge
This old bridge goes forth for miles and backward to 1909. Bet it has seen some winds. Most recently Hurricane Irma. The new bridge is a more comfortable, less romantic way to be tossed into oblivion by storms. Marathon Key. … Read More
To learn the value of a culture, check their barbecue.
The credit card machine kept disconnecting. I didn’t have cash, or my checkbook. “No problem,” said Perry Foster, “mail me a check.” Perry Foster’s Bar-B-Que embodied all that is good about humankind: Trust and harmony and world peace. Oh, and … Read More
Drive in movie
In the darkness, I followed a silver Suburban for two hours. Visible through its back window was a video screen playing to backseat passengers, so as I drove along Route 60 to Springfield, I watched Finding Nemo on a small-screen … Read More