Tango Transmission I washed my hands while listening to the two women behind me chatting in front of dark pink bathroom stalls. The short dark-haired one, wearing a blue-and-green, flower-covered dress leaned against the wall, while the older one worked on shifting her snug, dark purple dress down her body. “So did you just get back from Germany?” the older woman asked. “No, no, we went to Indonesia,” the shorter one said. That’s when I looked into the mirror at the shorter woman. I … [Read more...]
A Love Story: Told in Haiku
looking for true loveon a dating app, swipe right?what surprise awaits kisses, sex, bliss, lovetoo fast, too good to be true?time will tell they say laughter, hiking, sexwalking, talking, discoverycooking, playing, love no expectationsno regret, no assumptionsno anger, no hurt as soon as planes leaveand the sun's rays disappearloneliness arrives I close my eyes ourpassionate embrace floods mymind body and soul I miss you, my lovethe days are too long to waitto see you … [Read more...]
An Homage to My Mother on Father’s Day
"Happy Father's Day," I said to my mother during our daily call to each other. She laughed, but I could tell she appreciated it. My mother Rosa raised my two brothers and me on her own, all of us one or two years apart, financially, physically, and emotionally. While we were latchkey kids because she worked all the time, and there was raging and a great deal of drama throughout our lives, I mostly remember the times we piled into her big silver Chrysler and took off for the beach or to the … [Read more...]
A Day Without a Woman Dilemma
I participated in the A Day Without a Woman nationwide strike. No work, no shopping — except at woman or minority-owned businesses — and wearing red to show support. It should have been no problem for me. Most days I work from home, and I don't shop or dine out regularly. However, this day I found it difficult to stay put. I felt trapped. There were all these things I wanted to do, or felt I needed to do, now that I couldn't; of course, on my own volition. I was restless, and uneasy. But if I … [Read more...]