I've been cleaning my parents' basement this week, sorting through boxes upon boxes that have sat untouched for years. And among the mountains of refuse, I've found some notable childhood artifacts ( Read more... )

After being inspired by zia_narratora, I just emailed this letter to New York State Senators Mark Grisanti (grisanti@nysenate.gov) and Stephen Saland (saland@nysenate.gov), who are key swing votes on the bill currently in the state Senate that would enact marriage equality in New York State. 31 state Senators (29 Democrats and 2 Republicans) have publicly ( Read more... )

A sappy love story, for a friend and his lady.

( Her voice is only very slightly self-conscious as she tells the story. )

"What has happened?" said Dumbledore sharply, looking from Fudge to Professor McGonagall. "Why are you disturbing these people? Minerva, I'm surprised at you -- I asked you to stand guard over Barty Crouch ( Read more... )

The evening of Chinese New Year, I pull on a red shirt and fold my hair into twin braids framing my face. I unearth an old handbag -- was it from a trip to China? a trip to Chinatown? -- and trace my fingers over the scratchy satin fabric, the stitched black trim, the ornate Asian knots. Then I quickly stuff my wallet, keyring (jangling with ( Read more... )

Many years ago I was an alien.

It was surprisingly easy to become one, especially at age four, when other people take care of the paperwork. All I had to do was go somewhere different. I didn't even need my own pair of wings.

At the border I became transformed. I became a new species. I became alienI did not know it at the time, but there are ( Read more... )

In one century we've made the world smaller ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

I am somewhere I have never been ( Read more... )

'Tis a marvel, 'tis a wonder:
a great serpent I have seen
caved above that hill high yonder,
covered with scales of blue 'n' green!
Oft-times tears drip from her eyes;
she cries out a great wail!
And when you take her by surprise,
she breathes fire and whips her tail!

It was another of the girl's half-mad songs. She sang them so often that no one ( Read more... )