Historical fiction, poetry, essays
A small plane flies over an unmapped island floating in the middle of an ocean. The pilot circles the island in search of the runway. She trusts it’s down there, somewhere. Those with experience making this flight have promised the runway exists. The pilot wants to believe them. But she carries doubt like an extra … Continue reading Revision
I was first introduced to Armenian culture one evening when the man I would eventually marry took me home to meet his parents. I was nervous—sweaty palms, cold fingers and toes—wanting to make a good impression. Matilda, his mother, welcomed me in with a warm smile. She immediately offered me something to eat. I found this … Continue reading A Taste of Armenian
Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com Happy New Year! After two years (I know, I know) of not posting anything, I'm back. At least I intend to be back. What have I been doing in the meantime? Well, I've been working on my historical novel. After 18 months and with lots of help and support … Continue reading New Year, New Look, New Focus
Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com Yesterday I registered through my county's vaccination coordination platform. I'm not eligible to be vaccinated yet. At age 61 I'm still too young. But I was feeling helpless and frustrated as, one by one, my older friends and acquaintances started texting about the joys of getting their vaccination appointment, … Continue reading Vaccination Privilege
Photo by Yaroslav Danylchenko on Pexels.com Yesterday I went to get my hair cut and colored. COVID has receded enough to allow hair salons in my county to open again, but with strict restrictions. One client at a time, physical distancing, masks and temperature checks and disinfection protocols between each customer. So, my stylist was … Continue reading I Wimped Out….But I Won’t Next Time
My neighbor carefully paints the edge of her car’s trunk with white out because the too-small-to-notice scratch interrupts her well-manicured desire for perfection Another neighbor tosses water balloons across the spring lawn to her daughter because the beaches are closed and they yearn to feel the surprise of water splashing on skin My elderly neighbor … Continue reading Watching the Neighbors
This morning, for the first time in more than a decade, I had to appear for Superior Court jury duty. The last time I was summoned I got to call a juror hotline the day before to see if I was needed, and I wasn't. This time, there was no call in option--I had to … Continue reading My Constitutional Celebration
Now that the White House has announced its plans to cap the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States at 18,000, the lowest number in almost 40 years, we need to stop and reflect on what causes people to become refugees in the first place. Why do they leave everything behind except what … Continue reading “When Home Is the Mouth of a Shark”
One year ago today I spent the day watching Dr. Christine Blazey Ford testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Her story of being assaulted by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was compelling, sobering, and for those of us sexual assault victims, triggering. Immediately following her testimony, even some Republican Senators said she was "credible." Remember … Continue reading The Perils of Ignoring “Credible”
Several months ago I submitted a handful of poems for the Rattle Poetry Prize. Rattle is a quarterly poetry journal published by the Rattle Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to "promote the practice of poetry." I was interested in the contest not only because it offers one of the largest prizes for a single … Continue reading The Kindest Rejection
Cathy Standiford 