I noticed a few other folks come in the door and thread through the space in front of the bar. They mentioned something to a couple of friends then left without getting a beer. One by one, the bar emptied, and locals flowed out the door like a dam broke.
Read MoreI rolled out of my sleeping bag, still in my clothes, and pulled on a pair of brown hiking boots while my friend Katy hollered, “C’mon, get up. The fish are biting!” My first thought, How the hell does she know that standing outside the VW van? Katy is magic like that. We loaded backpacks with rope, food, a couple of thermoses full of hot chai tea, filet knives, and a cutting board, and some extra layers of clothing. It was early July, 2011 at 11 pm, and the sun was sinking below the mountain to the west of fish camp.
Read MoreA small town fiasco leads to a big misunderstanding when friends make a quick stop off the interstate on a cross-country drive.
Read More"Carl, this is nuts. The water's really high." I felt a twist in my belly, knowing full well the man possessed some magical power making it impossible for me to ever say no to him. Being the only woman in the group and the newest at kayaking, I had something to prove…mostly to myself.
Read MoreLate afternoon sun angles across the meadow, creating a facade of warmth on this chilly early March day. My black rubber chore boots squish in the mud left by the last rain as I make my way down the garden trail. Moments before it is crushed beneath the weight of me, a soft purple glow poking up on the edge of the path catches my eye.
I am alone, standing on the side of a two-lane blacktop road feeling lost. The white line painted on the asphalt at my feet stretches for miles to the north. I hear a distant hum behind me to the south. A black car approaches and slows down, stopping on the road in front of me. The passenger window is down. A gentle-spirited man with long black hair peppered with gray strands falling well past his shoulders has one hand on the wheel. His eyes are dark and shining bright with life and deep calm wisdom, “Are you coming with me or are you going to just stand there?”
Read MoreKali Kirkendall walks to the stove in her underwear, spins the knob on, and brings a blue flame to life beneath the kettle. The sailboat sways with the rhythm of the ocean as she hangs onto the counter and props the Aero Coffee Press between various heavy items stacked together in the sink so it doesn’t tip over. Steaming hot mug of coffee in hand, she makes her way up the starboard side stern rail and sits down. It’s been one of the most important years of her life. And the most undocumented.
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