Picking at the remnants of my Salad Nicoise, I watch Christophe sip his beer, and he tries not to grimace. “Maman does not let me drink alcohol.” I grin, “I am not your mother. Besides, you are seventeen. That is old enough.” He needs the social lubrication, or it will be a very long day. My cold Bellini is a simple pleasure as we sit al fresco. Around us, life continues as the bubbly chit-chat and the clatter of crockery...

I was excited when I heard that my brother-in-law's sister, Sharon, was returning with her family to my sister's this last Christmas; however, I was disappointed when I arrived and learned that Sharon and her husband planned to stay in a hotel this year. Just the kids were staying at my sister's house. I was sleeping on the same couch by the Christmas tree. I don't know why I was disappointed. What did I think would happe...

I was reminded of this story in a recent chat room conversation and thought I would share it. We live in the upper Midwest. Much of the countryside is farmland with the occasional small town. In the summer every town has a festival; Corn days, Gopher days, Rhubarb Festival, Buffalo says. You get the idea. One common activity is a parade down Main Street. Again, small-town stuff; The Mayor and family in a convertible, Boy...

I was just thinking about the night we spent in the Waterford Coffee Bar and how amazing it was to discover another special ability of yours. The memory excited me so much that I decided to write it down in the hope that reading it will also create the same excitement in you. So here it is… I had just read your “The Morning Rush” story, as we were sitting and sipping coffee. “I love the way you read me those words, remind...

This is part two of three of a series about a friend MaryAnn who stayed with my soon-to-be ex-girlfriend and me, after separating from her husband. My ex-girlfriend was going out of state for her mother's birthday for a few days. Two days, three nights alone in the house with MaryAnn, my mind raced for a week, thinking about what could happen - but probably wouldn't. My soon-to-be ex-girlfriend Morgan, who is normally une...

I was out of town at my sister's house for Christmas, not this last, but the one before that. There were many of us staying at my sister's house, so the only bed left was on the couch in the living room by the Christmas tree. I was up very late helping Santa, and after that, I stayed up even longer, drinking some whiskey and thinking about lost loved ones and friends I missed; Christmas stirs up memories and emotions. I w...

It was the 3rd of December 1980, and the summer was shaping up to be a hot one in South Australia. It was my last fortnight of trade school for the year when I met Lisa. She was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen at the tender age of seventeen. I would find out later she came in a close second to her mother, Heather. It was Monday morning, and I had slept in, so I was already late for the Gawler train. I only just h...

I went to a "meetup" for painting. Only six people showed up. We met at the organizer's studio space - one of a dozen inside a refurbished warehouse downtown. The organizer was a good-looking woman in her early thirties. She seemed confident and organized but friendly enough. Toward the end of the meetup, I showed the organizer, Heather, a few pieces I was working on, on my phone. I forgot to delete a painting of my cock...