nonfiction – The Wild Goose Land

On Writing: Submission and Rejection

Over the weekend, I cranked out a short (about 600 words) pieces and submitted it to McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. I submitted via email last night and this morning received a quick “no.” It’s been a long, long time since I’ve submitted or pitched anything and so mostly I’m just proud of myself for jumping backContinue reading “On Writing: Submission and Rejection”

On (not) drinking coffee

Over the course of the pandemic, my daily coffee intake slowly ramped up. I was already using a stove top espresso maker without really having considered that two cups of espresso is not really the same as two cups of coffee. And I somehow completely overlooked the cup of green tea I was having mostContinue reading “On (not) drinking coffee”

Home is Where Health Is

Here’s the thing: everything I need is right here. And here’s a sliver of what I see when I look back at pre-pandemic days and then today, as if I could fold time so that those two periods (pre-pandemic and this morning) could line up next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip.Continue reading “Home is Where Health Is”

Single tasking

Here’s part of the after dinner routine. I plonk myself down in a corner of the couch, next to the lamp, with my knitting project bag in hand and summon one of the older two children to my side. “Can you please come read to me?” They read. I knit and listen. It’s lovely. AndContinue reading “Single tasking”

Breaking Habits of Mind

I spent 21 years of my life as a student and I am now 44 years old, which means that I have existed on this planet as a non student just barely longer than as a student. Most habits are hard to break. This is what I learned as a student: every word and sometimesContinue reading “Breaking Habits of Mind”

Book: The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life in the Detroit Numbers by Bridgett M. Davis

I read this beautiful memoir, The World According to Fannie Davis, a few months ago for book club and am just now having some time (barely) to write down my thoughts about it. I have had a whole mess of thoughts about it and I will try to jot down as many as I canContinue reading “Book: The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life in the Detroit Numbers by Bridgett M. Davis”