Nina was beyond confusion. She had just read my story “The Fetish,” and demanded to know what on earth do a voodoo priestess and a missing man have in common with Uncle Tom’s Cabin? I could have told her that many American slaves were influenced by the Caribbean practices known as voodoo that date backContinue reading “The Assignment and the Fetish”
Category Archives: Recommended Reading
Nights Before Christmas
’Twas the night before Christmas when I found Nina browsing The Legend of Papa Noël. Written by Terri Hoover Dunham and illustrated by Laura Knorr, this children’s book is subtitled, “A Cajun Christmas Story.” Since Christmas appeals to the young at heart—and we’re both getting up there in years—I snuggled in with Nina to revisitContinue reading “Nights Before Christmas”
Parting the Thin Veil
As Halloween dawned, I found a perplexed Nina reading The Celtic Book of the Dead by Caitlin Matthews. Subtitled A Guide for Your Voyage to the Celtic Otherworld, the book and its accompanying tarot-like cards explore the immram—a mystical journey to find the meaning of life. Matthews lays out this path by first explaining theContinue reading “Parting the Thin Veil”
Rescued by Ron
Blogger Ron Cat died peacefully in his sleep October 2, 2020, after 18 wonderful years with us. Bob, Nina, and I miss him. Nina seems perplexed by Ron’s absence. She sniffs around his favorite chair, hides in different parts of the house, and demands affection—she’s typically aloof. She found a little solace reading Rescuing Sprite:Continue reading “Rescued by Ron”
Equinox = Balance of Astronomy, Astrology, and Semantics
This is a revision of a post that ran September 22, 2020.
A New Case of the Danbury Shakes
When John Oliver badmouthed Danbury, I donned my best Mad Hatter attitude, pulled out my Danbury Historic Booklet Series, and climbed my family tree. Ron caught wind of my indignation. It got his dander going. See, I’m from Danbury. Although I was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, I escaped to Danbury when I started college. AtContinue reading “A New Case of the Danbury Shakes”
What Yuki is Reading
The first picture is me, Yuki. JJ was the surrogate human in the days when my own humans used to travel. It was always better when my own humans took Princess Charlotte, the dog, with them. In the second photo is Chairman Meow, who feuds with Princess Charlotte. I’d rather read than fight, so I’veContinue reading “What Yuki is Reading”
Unmasqued
Right, Write Sentence
Hot damn. I can write a good sentence. At least according to the editors at WRITERS DIGEST. Nina enjoyed reading this one, which placed fourth in the journal’s May/June 2020 Your Story contest: Ensconced in a pretentious lair and camouflaged among imposters, Roseate Spoonbill surrendered without incident, but not without deceit. According to Jenny Davidson,Continue reading “Right, Write Sentence”
Big, Big, Little Richard
When I met Little Richard in the mid-nineties, he was huge. Not tall, although he seemed much heftier than his official 5´10˝, 160 pounds. Not flamboyant, either. His trademark pompadour was cropped to a tight Afro and his makeup was subtle. And certainly not entertaining. No, wearing a stylish white suit, minus the glitters, heContinue reading “Big, Big, Little Richard”
What the Cats Are Reading 