Tag: story

  • Neither Light Nor Dark

    I have been a lifelong fan of Star Wars. What has always drawn me most is not just the scale of its worlds or the depth of its mythology, but the tension at its core—the conflict between light and dark, and more importantly, the space that exists between them. Recently, I visited Disneyland and spent…

  • Mariachi Me… Same Traje, Different Mileage

    Mariachi Me… Same Traje, Different Mileage

    Being a Mariachi isn’t just about the music. It’s about what you carry before you ever play a note. The traje—sharp, tailored, unmistakable—has a way of teaching you that.  At first, it feels like a costume. Something you put on to look the part. The shine, the stitching, the silver botonadura, the way it commands…

  • The Longest Day – Sanitized, Signed In, and Socially Distanced

    I’ve had long days before. I mean, who hasn’t. Everyone has a horror story or two about work, some more drink worthy than others. A friend and I were recently comparing notes over coffee, as one does when caffeine doubles as a therapist. The conversation inevitably twisted itself around the question: who had the longest…

  • Bring Me Back a Rock

    Being a teacher comes with certain perks. Among the best of them are the relationships you build with your students. Getting to know those little humans in progress can be a real blessing. Sure, some of them behave like crazed monkeys recently escaped from the zoo, but for the most part, it’s a positive experience.…

  • Rain, Memories, and Mischief

    Not too long ago, I wrote about memories and how they have a way of popping up when you least expect them. Maybe it’s because I’m — how shall we say — a little older now, but I find myself looking back more often, sifting through the good, the funny, and the slightly bruised. I…

  • A quick Walmart run, a sweater vest, and three very stoned prophets.

    So this happened today….. Honest, it did. I only went to Walmart to pick up some meds and maybe a couple boxes of Oreos. Simple mission. In and out. You know the move: park near the pharmacy entrance, avoid eye contact with anyone dragging a screaming toddler or carrying a bulk box of Hot Pockets,…

  • Before Viral Was a Thing: Mariachi vs. Migra

    There’s a series of stories I’ve been carrying for a while—stories that needed telling.But before I share the rest of my collection, I wanted to start here, with this oneto test the waters and see if my words find a home with you. These stories come from a place of memory, humor, and a little…