“Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.” –Flannery O’Connor

Hey Readers,

The above Flannery O’Connor quote is my favorite piece of advice on writing. (Though, to be honest, the context may not have been directly related to the subject. Anybody know?) I find the quote serves me particularly well when I am facing the unwelcomed arrival of writer’s block.

You see, when I write about my childhood, I never know what will unearth itself. Maybe it will be the priest who lived on the grounds of my parochial grammar school, the one who always wore blue jeans when he wasn’t leading the day’s services. Or perhaps it will be the shuffling of Sister Mary-Norbert’s white tennis shoes across the concrete halls, the way she walked with shoulders squared and chin pushed forward, a gait which intimidated even the eighth-grade boys.

Maybe it will be the spring blooming of the Palo Verde trees in the front yard of our house on Chicago Circle. The way the fallen yellow petals collected like dust within the crannies of rocky desert landscaping. The landscaping that my mom would ask my dad to tend to for weeks at a time before he finally donned his wide-brimmed canvas hat and got to work. Trips to the dump in his old red Nissan, the back of his pickup brimming with dead foliage.

I love the self-discovery that comes with writing about childhood and also young adulthood. I love equally the setting in which many of these stories (for me, that is) take place: Arizona.

I could be bold here and say that I hope these digital narratives move you in some way, which would be true. But what I primarily hope to accomplish from this blogging foray is to document those spirit-shaping moments that begin somewhere between the Superstitions and South Mountain, and end within some stretch of dirt, highway, or creosote. This is a love letter to those spaces, past and present. And what I will say, reader, is that I would be happy to have your company.

So, there you have it—my introduction. If you would like to read more about me, you can select the aptly named About section within the site menu. And, now and always, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog today.

Featured Photo: Diana (Sister), Dad, Mom, and Me (circa 1996)