Beans for Breakfast

I give a guy directions to the second closest bike shop. He rejected the barista’s directions to the closest shop — “No. I know about that one.” I see that he’s getting lost just thinking about my directions, so I start over, filling in landmarks and leaving out street names. He [...]

…Then I get the opportunity to opt in for a couple of email newsletters and I’m asked for some demographic information…

The left lane was coned off for construction and the right lane was blocked by construction vehicles. The digger up front finally pulled away. The utilities truck stayed put, though signaling right. I pulled around it tentatively, looked to the driver who seemed poised to pull forward at any moment. I [...]

In summer, the setting sun hangs over the horizon for longer than in other seasons. People are gathered at the end of the pier to watch, they’re crowded two or three deep. The orange sun eventually sinks behind an Olympic.
A couple next to me are holding each other; and right at the moment [...]

Four or five washings later, my shorts’ pockets are still dusted with fine white sand from a Florida beach.
I half-imagine that I can feel the sand and salt digging into my pores and scratching against my legs.
It feels the same as my shirt collar brushing against the day old bee sting on the back of [...]