Expansion and Contraction
Usually, by this stage of the winter, my city has been shut down by at least one freak ice or snow storm. If it’s snow, there are generally not enough plows in
Kristen Martin
An Inauspicious Beginning
January is a popular time to visit the Emergency Department. I walked in there on MLK Day, after my husband dropped me off and went to look for parking, and instantly thought it
Climbing the Walls
It’s January in Oregon, and raining relentlessly. The Christmas decorations are gone, the tree and its ornaments boxed and in the attic. At this writing, my son is under the weather with
The Year in Binges
2025 was a year of emotional streaming and emotional eating. My husband and I are both despondent and outraged over what’s been happening to our country, which may be one reason why
Be Seen, Be Heard
I’ve been teaching myself piano for three years, and I’ve noticed something about the way I play. My fingers tend to approach the keys from an oblique angle, almost coming at