Dr Hannah I belong to the Kikuyu tribe which is notorious for many things. Among it’s highlights is what Kenyans used to call shrubbing. Shrubbing is taking English words and Kikuyunizing them (or converting them so they contain distinct traits of a tribal language.) It is no fault of mine that I frequently say “clazy”. It’s one of … Read more
My sweet Paul was very articulate at a young age. When he was three, Nana took him to her house for a weekend. He loved her cabin in the woods and came home full of stories of his imaginary friend, Ima McGack. He also had frequent encounters with his pet zebra and the zebra’s dolphin … Read more
So yellow the yellowness So black the polka dots So green the mowed lawn One beetle per blossom Each six bright spots. I was struck by the sunny dandelions in the lawn and stooped to admire their delicate unfurling petals. Nestled in the first one was a pretty ladybug. I looked at another, and another, and each one … Read more
My mother raised five girls, God love her. Towards the end of her life, all five of us snollygosters were regularly cracking up at her fashion sense. An ounce of wisdom shared among us would have warned that things were falling apart and that our lives were about to unravel with the ending of hers. But no, … Read more
Let’s cut the scut, Say goodbye hoi polloi And head for a favorite spot out south Where I gambol on weekends With some folks I love. It is quite a schlep but it’s worth every mile. And the sight of the Santiam makes my soul smile. There we doss, and we nosh, And we prate funny tosh. … Read more
Last week I had jury duty for the first time. We were there from 7.20 am to 5.07 pm. I was enthralled with the process though I ended up sitting in on a rather petty case. What a thorough, involved, and fascinating process. And to think this happens every day across the country. An army of citizens, … Read more