When I was sixteen, I went to Tower Records and asked if I could have this giant promo poster for the new Smiths album once the store took it down to make way for the next new releases. That was a thing back then. They gave them away on a first-ask basis. Anyway, I got…
When I was in grammar school I played the flute. I also played for a semester my freshman year in high school, but that was just a last ditched effort to pad my college application. Didn’t count. Third grade flute playing is what really stands out. I rented my flute. It was in a hard black case and…
I was walking to my car this morning and not paying attention, which is pretty standard fare for me these days, when I put my key into the driver’s side door, turned the key, and unlocked the car. I have no idea why. I don’t have a car that needs to be manually opened. I have…
The faces of 9/11 look older now. The actual photographs, hair styles, clothing, are aging. America has moved on and it’s been so long since that horrific day that the people we lost are starting to look different. I remember the first time I went through the memorial of the victims, on the first anniversary, they…
I am home from the beach. We went for a week to visit my mom and Gil. We go every year for the 4th of July. There were eight of us because each child brought a friend. First time with friends and it was different…good different. A new layer. I baked, we played charades, ate crabs…
I went to Ray’s Pizza last night for dinner. I’m pretty sure everyone has a Ray’s Pizza by now, but I really like mine. It has red vinyl booths, odd “where did you even buy this” artwork, some sporting event is always on the television, and the menu is lit from behind on a 1985…