stories

People, places, and and the uncommonplace telling stories as they travel with Morganica (Cynthia Morgan) in mind and memory; neighbors, friends, and findings

4 02, 2010

Surges, Henry and Darryl

2016-05-15T15:56:21-07:00

There's something seductive about working from home, whether it's in a studio or behind a computer. You can be as unwashed and floppy as you like and wear things the Goodwill wouldn't accept if you paid 'em (even in Portland). What you can't do, however, is drop everything and get to your next meeting on time. Too often I look up from whatever it is I'm doing and realize I have 15 bloody minutes to shower, blow-dry, make-up, dress, print out whatever it is I need and drive across town.

Surges, Henry and Darryl2016-05-15T15:56:21-07:00
27 01, 2010

Michelle

2015-11-07T23:02:12-08:00

"I just need $14.50," the woman said anxiously, "And I'll have enough for a room for the night. That's all, and I'm not lying! It's only so I have a place to sleep." I'd had a rare hour to spare before my next appointment in Portland's Pearl District and so I did my favorite thing: I drifted through the streets and watched.

Michelle2015-11-07T23:02:12-08:00
25 01, 2010

Flying fish

2021-02-23T19:38:52-08:00

Then there was the time I drove through a perfect storm of fish... Dunno what's prompting me to keep diving into memory lane, except that I'm swamped with work and sculpture and friends and not finding a lot of new stories. When you're not listening to strangers on a train or a park bench, the storytelling muscles tend to turn [...]

Flying fish2021-02-23T19:38:52-08:00
20 01, 2010

The art of ignorance

2020-05-05T14:38:26-07:00

"I just LOVE your collection," I gushed, "It's absolutely incredible. How long have you been collecting?" My host looked puzzled...

The art of ignorance2020-05-05T14:38:26-07:00
15 01, 2010

Limo ride

2020-05-05T14:58:40-07:00

The important dude sat opposite me in the limo, confident and just a tad patronizing, flanked by his PR handler and the most amazingly beautiful woman I'd ever met. He was the CEO of a big multinational and I was covering his company's new product line. His only available timeslot was the early-morning drive to the airfield, so here I was, scooted in next to his grownup son.

Limo ride2020-05-05T14:58:40-07:00
6 01, 2010

Mary and lonely

2015-11-07T16:30:55-08:00

The train was delayed--they didn't say why--so Mary and I talked about lonely. "The thing is," she began, "as long as you don't know you're lonely, you're not. But once you realize it, you'll always be lonely." I blinked at her logic. "So if I just don't think I'm lonely, I'm not, but if I do, I can't be anything else?" She smiled. "Exactly. Once you find out you're lonely, it's a permanent condition. But you learn to like it..."

Mary and lonely2015-11-07T16:30:55-08:00
30 12, 2009

Snowbound

2020-05-05T15:00:03-07:00

It's 1:15AM, I'm wide awake and, uncharacteristically, writing this on paper. It feels odd, blogging with a pen, but then it's been an odd day. I'm stranded in a downtown hotel for the night, thanks to an unexpected snowstorm.

Snowbound2020-05-05T15:00:03-07:00
21 12, 2009

Coat of many colors

2016-05-18T00:23:28-07:00

She didn’t tell me her name and I didn’t give her mine. She’d walked up to the bench I was sitting on at Powells Bookstore, killing time until I met a friend for dinner, and she waited until I looked up. “Are those your books? Is it OK if I move them?” She was about 50, a well-dressed blonde with [...]

Coat of many colors2016-05-18T00:23:28-07:00
11 12, 2009

Sing-along time

2020-05-05T15:00:51-07:00

Back to glass casting later, 'cause over at Facebook we're fracturing Christmas carols, and I'm adding my share. Besides the classics ("Rudolf the Red-nosed Bandit" and "Jingle Bells but Santa Smells!") I've so far added that much-beloved "Hark the Hairy Anglos Sing." An old friend contributed "Eggplants We Have Heard on High." And I just thought of this one:

Sing-along time2020-05-05T15:00:51-07:00
Go to Top