When I was a nurse I took care of many people from other countries and I always learned five words in their language: please, thank you, hello, good bye and excuse me. The Basic Five. People seemed to enjoy being greeted in their native tongue (even though my accent was often laughable), and it felt… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Claire
A Life in Two Boxes
The boxes arrived a few days after my dad died. Two boxes. One contained photographs and writings of his war time in Korea and Vietnam. Also in the box was a 5″ thick binder with a copy of what appears to be every piece of paper he gave the Corps (my birth certificate, transcripts from… Continue Reading
It’s Been a Hot Minute
Minutes (hot or otherwise), hours, days and now two months have flown by since I last contemplated writing. I wasn’t ignoring writing, on the contrary, I have snippets and half developed ideas jotted in my notebook. I have been living and hope to be able to convey this summer into writing later on. So many… Continue Reading
My Friend
My cat Skeeter. Boon companion, best bud and constant source of good company, he traveled over the rainbow bridge after thirteen years, snuggled in my arms as I did the last best thing for him. I rescued him as a kitten from the shelter when I went looking for a different cat. As I entered… Continue Reading
Caring For The Already-Born
How the nuns at my Catholic hospital informed compassionate culture Roe v Wade became law three years before I graduated from nursing school. I moved from the east coast I worked in the ED at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City for over twenty years (I am not Catholic). Coming from a secular hospital… Continue Reading
The Robins Are Insane
It’s Not Even Light Yet… Disorganized squawking dragged me from a deep sleep and I opened the eye not squished into my pillow…it was barely not-dark. WTH? Robins. The robins are insane. I turned over, disturbing the cat, and listened to them calling in the trees around my neighborhood. They have an un-lovely song by… Continue Reading
Nature Abhors a Vacuum
Resist the urge to fill up the white space I am an organized person and I like knowing what I have to do when. Being visually oriented, seeing events in time helps me not over-schedule, which is less of a problem than it used to be. I was raised with sly comments and subtle… Continue Reading
The Russian Federation is Whining Again
Bombed out apartment building in Ukraine. Putin’s temper tantrum continues. Sketch by the author I peek at the headlines every morning trying to stay reasonably informed but not overwhelmed. I cannot help if I allow myself to be dragged under by events. This morning it was announced that Putin is complaining that NATO is waging… Continue Reading
Against the Horrors of Occupation….What?
The horrors of Bucha in the aftermath of Russian occupation feel overwhelming. Debilitating. Shattering. The war criminal Putin and the Russian soldiers who are without honor, heart or soul have perpetrated unforgivable crimes against the people of Ukraine and all humanity. A few miles or half a world away, what can be done? I have… Continue Reading
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
I can’t hear you….the shelling is too loud Today Russia’s actions perfectly illustrated why it does not belong on the Human Rights Council of the United Nations. Russia’s words of “liberation” for the Ukrainian people were drowned out by the shelling of civilians waiting to be evacuated at Kramatorsk train station. Yesterday after being suspended… Continue Reading
