The natural world, life, and dogs.
One of the hardest parts of leaving Idaho for Vermont in 2021 was believing I would never again visit any of the cairns I built in the Payette National Forest to memorialize the lives of Maia and Meadow, my two Alaskan Malamutes who helped me explore wild forest places after we moved to Idaho in… Continue reading The Magic Remains
The only constant in life is change. ~Heraclitus I was away from Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains for 3.5 years. I’m so lucky to be back in the place that, as no other, feels like home. Yet as much as I feel I’ve returned to familiar ground, I’m continually surprised by how much has changed in… Continue reading Changes
My father always told me, “Remember, you’re no better than anyone else. Treat everyone—from the janitor to the CEO—equally, with kindness and respect.” From a young age, I watched him put that philosophy into action. He enjoyed shooting the breeze with anyone he met, from a mechanic working on his (or my) car to wealthy… Continue reading An Unexpected Benefit of Being Kind
How does one grieve a car? Is that even a thing, or am I weird? They're just things. Expensive, useful objects that require maintenance and insurance. Yet, one can grow attached to them. My two oldest brothers named their first car, purchased from an uncle, Gomper. It was green, one of those large, bulbous 1950s… Continue reading Grieving a Car
Through the month of September, I'm running a "giveaway" on Goodreads, offering a free copy of the ebook version to one hundred readers, chosen by lottery at the end of the sign-up period (Sept 30). Sorry, but per Goodreads, the offer is valid for US customers only. (Not my choice!) I hope you'll take advantage… Continue reading Read Wild Running for Free!
Recently, I’ve been feeling adrift. Unmotivated. I must be leaking, I mused. When I spring a new CSF (cerebral spinal fluid) leak, or exacerbate an existing one, along with the increased headaches, tinnitus, excessive sleeping, and shortened temper, I feel unmotivated to do even simple, daily tasks. I put all but the most critical things… Continue reading Post-publishing Blues
I used to do a lot of road cycling, but these days, all I ride is my Tunturi stationary bike, a fan substituting for the natural wind in my hair. I bought my Tunturi in 1984, my first big purchase after graduating law school. It has been a sturdy and reliable workhorse ever since. For… Continue reading Race Shirts
A few days ago, I received an email, copied in along with a long list of recipients, all of whom were cell phone numbers @mms.att.net. As was the sender. No names attached. Mine was the only typical email address. I didn’t recognize any of the cell numbers. Area codes came from all over the country.… Continue reading My Father’s Stetson Goes on a Road Trip
It started when Brian, someone I grew up next door to in the 1960s and 70s, texted to say he’d found some slides when going through his father’s things. The slides showed my father standing next to his beloved bi-plane, the 1924 Boeing P-12. Did I want them? Of course! I had no way of… Continue reading Connections
Recently, I’ve experienced an intriguing confluence of coincidences. They all involve my father. It started a week ago. *** First, my friend Brian—we grew up next door to each other—emailed to say he’d found some slides while going through his recently-deceased father’s belongings. Some were of my father and his beloved P-12 (a restored 1926… Continue reading Hot Chocolate
Wild Sensibility 