“Birds know themselves not to be at the center of anything, but at the margins of everything. The end of the map. We only live where someone’s horizon sweeps someone else’s. We are only noticed on the edge of things; but on the edge of things, we notice much.” ― Gregory Maguire, Out of Oz The birds of Sunset Cliffs live on … Read More
Today’s Walk: Morning Dilemma
“…I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” ― E.B. White Yesterday, before the mists rolled in, I rose and took my walk early. These moments nourished me for for the rest of the day and into today, as I sit … Read More
Today’s Walk: Erosion
“The waves broke and spread their waters swiftly over the shore. One after another they massed themselves and fell; the spray tossed itself back with the energy of their fall. The waves were steeped deep-blue save for a pattern of diamond-pointed light on their backs which rippled as the backs of great horses ripple with muscles as they move. The … Read More
Today’s Walk: Market Day in Ocean Beach
“An ordinary simple street is the mirror of the whole world!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan Too many days, too few walks. Then came the chance to walk to the post office to mail a book to someone and there it was: the mirror of the world. Music. Color. The smells of empanadas, tamales, ribs, herbs, lavender cream. Tastes of honey, … Read More
Today’s Walk: Silver Saturday
The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea. -Isak Dinesen Today’s walk yielded evidence of the cliff’s impermanence. A crack ran the length of the parking lot’s edge below a ribbon of red caution tape. Yet the sea drew us all today for one reason or another, some joyful, some not. Surf advisories only … Read More
Sunset 2013
As 2013 began to draw to its close, the skies over southern California began to light up. For several weeks in December, many of us would be on our way into the house to make dinner only to become spellbound. More than once, the early risers among us caught the moon fading into a glory of blues, golds, violet and, … Read More
Hitting Bottom and Calling it Home
Thirty one years ago, Jim Mastro applied for a job as a seal trainer at the San Diego Zoo. He didn’t get it so he went to work in Antarctica. For a year. When I met Jim earlier this year at the Southern California Writer’s Conference, I knew none of this. If I had, I would have abandoned what I … Read More