It has taken me a long time to write this. Sitting down to do so has been an arduous task. Every time I’ve committed hours of my day to telling this story, to capturing it for eternity into words, I’ve found other projects, tasks, or naps on which to focus. The tale is one that … More The Chevy and Me, A Hero’s Journey: History and the Call to Adventure
I began writing this post 38,062 feet above New Mexico. I had 876 miles left on my steel bird until I reached the promised land of California. I was dreaming of touching down within the sweet, succulent borders of the place on this earth that, more than anywhere else, has consistently taken me into its … More Moments: Opening Lines, Two Degrees, & Being You
Love them or hate them, I can’t deny Train of their bewitching way with words. Now that she’s back from that soul vacation, tracing her way through the constellation… Tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet? Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day, and head back … More Soul Vacation
Early February, I went on a work trip to Los Angeles to attend a conference I have lusted after for the past three years — the National Alliance to End Homelessness’s Annual Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness. I stepped off the plane at LAX, and although it didn’t feel exactly like the Northern … More The Heterogeneity of Life
I looked out of the small airplane window and I smiled. Then my eyes smiled. Then my ears. Then my chest and my elbows and my hands and my knees and my toes and then all the way back up to my nose, smiled. Euphoria took over my entire body and I wanted to jump … More The Californian Diaspora
Not only did I find a place to get laptop mellow, but the same place also happens to have a black and white cookie that is done right. On top of this, they have chai — good chai. Goodbye, suburbs. You are convenient when I need Tupperware and assorted garden items from your dizzying array … More Metaphorical Hot Springs
Everyone I meet tries to peg my accent. Personally, I’m not sure what accent they’re talking about. I don’t really think of northern Californians as having accents. If, however, these accent accusers are correct, then where did this voice of mine come from? I think my soul is a vagabond writing songs in all the … More Picking Up Scraps of Accent & the Allegory of the Badlands
I’m not religious, but I have quite an affinity for religious iconography and songs. There is just some sort of strength, some sort of connection that comes out of spirituality that tickles me. There is a song I enjoy where one verse describes a girl on a subway who takes out a toothbrush and starts … More Here’s a Map and Here’s a Bible
I had my first ever chai tea in Eugene, Oregon. I knew from the first sip that it was the beginning of a very long and meaningful relationship. I began to learn the true power that being “coffee shop mellow” had over the next few years. I hopped from café to café in hopes of … More Tears in My Chai
I’d heard the hype for a while. I even had a guest speaker come into one of my college major’s classes to talk about the event’s yearlong planning efforts. I always thought it would be neat to go to, but I never thought it would be anything too out of the ordinary. I love festivals, … More The Oregonian’s Disneyland
ROUGH OUTLINES 