When I Google “alone” I find a bunch of synonyms: single, friendless, solitary, lone, lonesome and more. I’m alone a lot these COVID-19 days. Today I spoke six words. Each time a … more

This winter has been difficult, perhaps more so than I had anticipated, the result of a combination of winter blues, too much political news and the “endless endlessness” of an ongoing … more

Social distancing opened up blocks of unscheduled time and put the lie to my standard excuse: “I don’t have time to ____.” In the initial phase of isolation, I felt the need to … more

I have had a great deal of time to think over the past year. These days, there’s not much to do on a Friday night once the dishes are done and the laundry is folded. So if I’ve got … more

On his first day in office, President Joe Biden brought the U.S. back into the Paris Climate Accord, revoked permits for the Keystone XL Pipeline and imposed a temporary moratorium on oil and gas … more

I was maybe 15 when I asked this gorgeous 17-year-old girl out on a date. I had no business doing that, but back then I had an abundance of courage and not much sense. I don’t remember how I … more

“Run, Eva!” I tell her in an excited voice once we’re safely inside the gate and I’ve taken off her leash. “Eva, run!” And off she goes, zero to warp speed in … more

Last October found me in Indiana. My wife and I traveled there to say our final goodbyes to my dad, who was dying of mesothelioma. I returned in December for his funeral. Because of COVID-19, it was … more

One year ago I was on a sunny beach in Mexico with friends, enjoying the relaxed pace of small-town life, swimming in the ocean, sampling the local food and soaking up the sun. It was marvelous in … more

Too bad there isn’t a superlative form for “unique.” If the grammar police let me say “unique-est,” I’d wear it out describing the KP. From above, the Key … more

I spent the best part of my 1960s childhood in a beach town outside L.A. We lived in a platted neighborhood that sloped down to the water, but it wasn’t fully developed. The road to the freeway … more

Like many families across the country, dogs hold a significant place in our family dynamic. Since before I was born, we’ve always had at least one dog in our pack. We’ve had a number … more

One afternoon back in the late ’70s, my husband Bill and I were resting on a little bench that used to be situated inside the Panda House at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Through the big … more

“Stop getting out of bed,” I tell Violet every night around 9 p.m. “You need to go to sleep so you’ll feel good and have power for your day tomorrow.” I tell her to … more

It’s the early 1990s and we’ve gathered for dinner at Grandma’s house. Adults are talking in the kitchen while the teenagers lounge in the back room, debating whether there’s a Walkman amongst the presents under the tree. Somewhere, there’s a record player spinning carols by Andy Williams. more

As I entered the early stages of restless boredom, our modern conveniences conspired to provide distraction. Minor amusements were provided by the DIY restoration of the coffee grinder, a favorite chainsaw, the TV remote, a sewing machine and other malfunctioning amenities. more

Runners spread throughout southern Puget Sound, inviting headmen from the villages on the Nisqually and Puyallup Rivers, the Key Peninsula and the southern inlets, during this rainy season 166 years ago. more

Since its release on Disney+ July 3, I’ve been watching and listening to “Hamilton: The Musical” on a regular basis while anxiously awaiting the day when live theater is again a reality so I can see it in person. I was undoubtedly late to the Hamilton party but I quickly fell in love with the storytelling, the cast, the music, and the connection I felt between the show and the 2020 election already swirling around me. more

I came to Seattle in the spring of 1991 when I was 27 and somehow landed a part-time job tutoring teenagers. There was no good reason for me to be doing that, other than I’d had experience … more

The first time I swam in the Atlantic Ocean — actually, I never swam in the Atlantic Ocean or any other large body of water. When I was 6 years old a bunch of relatives on my mother’s … more