Author Archives: janishaag

(for Patricia Beach Smith) Some of your many loved onesgathered on a windy Mondayto watch your final journey, lowered smoothly into the groundnext to a friend, becominginterred neighbors—a sweet bit of kinship since you hadhelped the man’s widowselect that spot … Continue reading →

We thought it was just on the coastwhere winds gusted so fiercely that we were pushed over a bit by them—a gentle shove, not like that of a bully, but of someone wanting to get ourattention. But as we drove … Continue reading →

(for Dickie) And why not count every precious day,even if it adds up to an oh-my-god,how-can-this-be number? Why not celebrate the walk downthe trail to the little waterfall’d spotwe call Coup de Grace, as we have done dozens of timesover … Continue reading →

The tall, wind-pummeled giantsline up parallel to the sea, lean benevolently over the always-coolpathway serenaded by birds, lulled by waves, some extendinglong limbs graceful as ballerinas low to the ground, whichalso turn out to be roots, interlacing with the next … Continue reading →

When one of us shuffles off this mortal coil,gives up the ghost,crosses over, breathes one’s last,heads for the last roundup,joins the choir invisible, it startles the rest of us,forces us to pause asmourning sets in. Nothing to be donebut remember,to … Continue reading →

My favorite editor at the big newspapersidled up to me one day as my rumpled, nondescript khakis and Iconfronted the huge computer screen blinking its green insistence.She set before me what became my favorite ice cream soda:a Jik Jak frost … Continue reading →

Pamela’s on the noon to 2 shift today,sunny and breezy, coolish on the bluffoverlooking both sectionsof Tidepool Beach. She doesn’t mind: She’s bundled upagainst the chilly wind, whichtwo days ago when I was hereblew warmer on this bluff,spring bringing a … Continue reading →

(for PJ and Dave and Scooby) As we arrive, Scooby,the head dood, leader of the pack,the alpha golden doodle,arrows right for us—“People!” his wiggles seem to say— though his dad has a firm handon the leash attached to the gyrating,excited … Continue reading →

that you get less than 15 minutes afteryou arrive at the house you loveby the ocean because you simply have to go out on the deck, unlatchthe clasp that holds down the lidto the hot tub and check the temp, … Continue reading →

You always see better with your heart,especially when your vision is goingor has been impaired all your life. “Nice to see you” is an expression,not a reality, though you might wellbe happy to be in someone’s orbit. I wonder now … Continue reading →