Rikki and Sam

Rikki wore herself, her other self, with aplomb. Hers was an expression of polite detachment and of slight boredom with it all. And cloaked in this dignified isolation, rather than give rise to pity or protection, it drew others to her with its charismatic secret quality. She had learned quickly, back in her dark days, …

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Quality of language

Thwarted, incongruousness, felicitations, Frankfurter, compendium, plethora; such specificity of language. I love it! With so much being said (not) today with a multitude of initialisms/acronyms and icons, language (as we knew it) has undeniably taken a hit! An inefficiency in communication brought on by the utilization of generic abbreviated expedient words and visuals that foster …

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Actually doing alright…great even

Thinking, speaking, doing. Even when not doing still doing, even when not speaking still saying something and so it goes. This ever rushing on of life and we along with it. Some in the eye of the storm, some on the sidelines and still others expertly balanced on the edge. Everyone everything everywhere moving and …

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La Fiaccolata

Mystic. Pagan. The beginning. A procession makes its way along the winding mountain road, surrounded by the thick black inkiness of night. The group small and vulnerable beneath the mammoth masses of craggy rock towering above. The connection between total strangers is palpable as the crowd moves forward, following the leader through the darkened village. …

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Performers

Her head is exaggeratedly poised on a stiffly held neck; her expression overloaded with feigned interest in what he is saying, which by the way, is a whole lot of nothing. He sits back languidly in his seat, legs crossed, ensuring his hand and cigarette are just so and that his expression conveys the right …

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Another place

Those who have gone there agree that it is exceptional! And that it reaches far above and beyond the more general feeling of well-being or cozy comfort that you might experience while sitting by the fire with a glass of wine and a good book or snuggled between freshly laundered sheets. Even its source both …

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1989

That summer of 1989 was distinguished by a philosophy of carpe diem and a Faustian desire to learn. We were young. We were far from home. Everything was possible. “Come on! We are going to be late,” yelled Gianna grabbing her book bag a clementine, my arm and dragging me down the stairs and out …

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A forever bond

She in her play pen trying to escape and me in my high chair cheering her on. Wobbly but determined she would grip the edge of the play pen and thrust her little body back and forth back and forth whilst I joined in by kicking my legs out, squealing and throwing food. Silver tinsel …

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An Italo Canadian way of talking

The citations below are all true and come from our family's collection of Italianisms/Canadianisms and plain goofy but effective communication. They are retold with affection and admired for their comedic value even all these years later. Location: Toronto, Canada between 1953 and 2009 Encyclopedia Salesman: Good morning Madam, may I introduce you to the world …

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