Goose Rocks Beach Laura and me late 1960’s and then me and family on occasion my father and sister’s Memorial 2022. These last couple of years so many transitions, my sister Laura, my father, and then my mother.  My father had left us exquisitely detailed written instructions on how to conduct his memorial service,…read more

Something smells bad in our refrigerator. Rotten vegetable smell. I have smelled every individual item in there. I have gotten on hands and knees and inspected underneath the fridge. I have cleaned the crisper. I have thrown out old food. But every time I open the door there’s that smell. This is just the type…read more

“And it will be if you diligently obey My commandments… I will give rain for your land at the proper time…and you will gather in your grain, your wine and your oil.”   There are 613 commandments in the Torah ranging from honor your mother and father, to not benefitting from an ox condemned to be…read more

At sunset on December 4th, 1972, a 12 year old boy featuring a teen-age-not-yet-shaved-but-should-have-been-but-it-was-too-embarassing-because-none-of-the-other-kids-were-so-hairy moustache was waiting at the yellow Formica kitchen counter.  To the right a glass fish bowl with 2 guppies looking pretty good despite having had 10’s of babies 2 days before which had been immediately removed and given to the neighbors…read more

How deserted lies the foot,    once so full of cushioning tissue! How like a widow is she    who could once walk on hard pavement for miles. She who carried of the body without complaint    Is now a cracked harbor of plantar fasciitis.  Bitterly, she weeps in the locker room,    fungus on…read more

Rose is in her second year at Evergreen State College. After having wandered two years in the wilderness of Reed College and Seattle Community Colleges, she has re-discovered the joy of learning. Evergreen not only suits her academically, she has been living 1 minute away from her supportive first cousin, Annie Cantrel; and one and a half…read more

Most Annual Letters  are listings of accomplishments, ie celebrations.  It is the rare Annual Letter that is revelatory, ie revealing of juicy details.  For 2013, I have much to celebrate… and a bit to reveal.  (Relax Rose and Christopher; the “reveal” is about me, not you guys)  First: the celebrations! My Film Short:  “On the…read more

In 2012, my frequent travels lead me to a revelation about excess square footage.  I enjoyed living out of the 3 square feet of my suitcase and I stopped enjoying living out of the 3000 square feet of my house. So I downsized, albeit in true Richard style. I turned my 2900 excess square feet, in…read more

In the Richardian calendar, earthly distractions are not permitted during the Holy Festival of Skiing, November to April.  Therefore, I have waited until now to reflect on last year. Last year at this time, I had just completed my One Man Show for my 50th birthday.  I hadn’t done theater prior to that show and…read more

I thought that 2009 was a big year…. dealing with Rachel and the kids’ impending move to CA, getting back together with Steve, the ending of migraine headaches after 40 years (thanks to gluten free diet), kidney stone surgery, a cervical disk herniation and its resolution, ongoing study of the Work by Byron Katie, the…read more