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Posts published in “Essays”

The Stony Lonesome: Kids Today

I'm sitting here looking at the February 11 issue of the AVA and wondering what I should make of the fact of my work being honored with placement on the front page, above the fold,…

Prom Pop & The Rites Of Adolescence

As the older of my two daughters went off to her senior prom last weekend, I couldn’t help but think back to a trip to the local mall to see Disney’s Prom made with her…

Just Old

A friend suggested that the reason I find contemporary American movies and books and plays and music to be largely junk is that I am just old.

Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, David Crosby, and many other older musicians aver that contemporary popular music today is inferior to the popular music of their day, but that’s just because those guys are old.

Gratitude

The following song is an offering from Nick, who visits his uncle Mitcho from time to time in those far out hills of Yorkville.  Two years ago they performed a few songs at the Anderson…

Thirty Years Ago In Willits

When I got back from Mexico at the end of February I was told by my landlord’s son, Bruce Burton, that he and Chris Baldo were taking over the property to mill their redwood and…

Pilgrimages

On June 10, 1881, a fifty-two year old count draped himself in the garb of a peasant and set off down a dust covered, rutted road. The count had been in something of a spiritual…

The Stony Lonesome: Primary Purpose

Ever since I first discovered meth in 1981 — no, that's not right. I believe I should correctly say that since Meth, out on its voyages of discovery and exploration in seeking to establish hegemony…

Late Spring

Nature brought us a treat two weeks ago, a young doe, resident to these woods we own a small part of, sauntered by the north-facing windows followed by two tiny fawns, their smallness amplifying their cuteness. Since then, the doe and her fawns have returned several times, the two babies larger each time, their movements ever more graceful and assured.

Poultry Apocalypse

Sometime in April my neighbor walked over to the back corner of our place while we were stretching the plastic over our wooden greenhouse frame. He had plenty of guinea eggs, he said, also informing…

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