Archive

“Master one principle, learn 1,000 techniques,” Hanshi says as we’re moving through the basics of sambon kumite (promise fighting) at the dojo tonight. Nate (2nd degree black belt) and I are [...]

For new readers, this letter is the 3rd I’ve printed from fans of Lost Crossings, the community-funded book project published by myself and Shane Darwent. Learn more or order the book at [...]

An incomplete, short list of short stories I can’t live without: “The Hermit’s Story” by Rick Bass (from The Hermit’s Story) “Fell This Girl” by Aimee Bender (from The Girl in the Flammable [...]

It’s a good sign when you’ve lived someplace for more than seven years and you still find yourself pulling over on the side of the road to look at something beautiful. Last month it was the Black [...]

If you had to pack your life-for-the-next-year into your car, which of the following means of making coffee would you pack. Choose only one: A)   SAECO Incanto Sirius espresso machine [...]

Life at the dojo has been full-bore these past few weeks. To prepare for my sankyo test (brown belt), I come an hour early on Tuesday and Thursday nights to train with Hanshi. Since his daughter [...]

Each day my momentum picks up speed: I am packing, sorting, selling, donating, and organizing my life for one-year on the road. The first 4 ½ months will be at Interlochen. After that, who knows. [...]

Heading up the driveway in my truck this afternoon, the folks who live at the bottom of the gravel road came out with some news. “They brought down two bears this morning,” said Bill. I knew what [...]

Two weeks ago, I was privileged enough to be recognized at an awards reception sponsored by the North Carolina Humanities Council. I received the Linda Flowers Literary Award for fiction and was [...]

[Sorry my posts have been in the morning rather than the night I compose them. I have had internet connection problems all week.] This time of year, I wake to the sunrise. With floor-to-ceiling [...]