Would my books be published by now if I dedicated as much time to my pseudo-writing career as I do cleaning my apartment? Modern life is an interminable series of distractions. In my last moments, I can imagine thinking: God, I can’t die yet! I haven’t done the dishes! In Tales of Ordinary Madness, Charles … Continue reading What About, Robert?
Memoir
Cat Shadow
This cat shadow on the wall is not a cat at all, but rather a silhouette created by the afternoon sun and a decorative plate my maternal grandparents owned. They are dead now and the plate belongs to me. People love their pets more than their pets love them, and they are better for it. … Continue reading Cat Shadow
Hinky Dinky: Adventures in Grocery Shopping
My mother used to take me grocery shopping with her when I was a little boy in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Our favorite store was Hinky Dinky. It was an independent store, not part of any chain, located near the Big Sioux River on West 12th Street. The service was fantastic. The store was always … Continue reading Hinky Dinky: Adventures in Grocery Shopping
Minneapolis: Photos From the City of Crows
Lily Pads and Clouds
My thirteen-year-old son returned to the classroom today. This will be his final year of middle school. I’m always deeply saddened to see summer end. At least we had one last bicycle adventure on the river bottoms before he resumed that tiresome slog of quizzes and essays. As we left the neighborhood, I cautioned him … Continue reading Lily Pads and Clouds
No Mow May
Last week I purchased a new lawnmower at my son’s behest. The lithium battery-powered mower I had been using finally crapped out for good. I should have returned it the day I bought it because it never was worth a damn. It had some safety feature that killed the engine if you went over the … Continue reading No Mow May
Minneapolis Skyline
I was very happy when I first moved to Minneapolis seventeen years ago. I recall a sense of elation as I stared at the distant cluster of downtown skyscrapers while running around what was then called Lake Calhoun. I had discovered a place that felt like home, a new home without all the baggage from … Continue reading Minneapolis Skyline
A Hole in the Ice (Part 1)
“A Hole in the Ice” is a short story I wrote before the pandemic started. I’m still ice fishing and in that time I’ve figured out some things. This season, I caught a lot of crappies out of Lake Nokomis that I filleted, fried and ate. It was a gratifying moment to see seven-year-old Theo … Continue reading A Hole in the Ice (Part 1)
The Man of the House
My youngest son and I have a joke we share. Before I leave for work, I tell him he is the man of the house while I am gone. This started last spring when his kindergarten class was quarantined and his older brother still got to go to school. Now I say he’s the man … Continue reading The Man of the House
Dirty Money
My father kept essential personal items like his wallet and car keys on a shelf near the front door of the trailer. As a boy, my dad was something of a mystery to me and I was keenly interested in these things. He had a silver Timex watch. “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking,” … Continue reading Dirty Money
Crow City 