As the fires burn the west, the fire sun visits Oklahoma.

Wonder Year: A journey to find enchantment every day
366 Wonder Days Shared in 2020 — Now you can join me!
As the fires burn the west, the fire sun visits Oklahoma.

In the spring I stepped in as the president of the Creative Writers Association at the university I’m at. Normally, we hold our monthly graduate readings at this great dive-ish bar across from the English department. But now that we are on Zoom for much of life, we have had to adapt. Welcome to my hosting station, from the living room. It’s interesting about how, a year ago, I wouldn’t have guessed this scenario. Is that wonder?

I don’t know about you but I LOVE pictures that were taken when I wasn’t around. I wish there was a way to time travel, be on this deck, groovin’ with my in-laws and their friends. Can someone invent this?

The joy I’m seeing old friends who you haven’t played with since March.

Especially during the pandemic where we see no one.



Called, “The Frog in the Log” painted by our neighbor, written by me.

By the brilliant Tanaka Tatsuya.


We are approaching the end of week 7, beginning week 8 of quarantine in this pandemic. Our town in Stillwater, OK was supposed to slowly reopen with masks being mandatory to be worn in public and stores. However, within 3 hours of this regulation, some people in the town got angry, even using guns to threaten stores for not letting them enter without a mask. The whole thing is irresponsible. The mayor reacted to this revolt with revoking the mandatory mask-wearing rule to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Only after a few hours.
Such a strange time to be a part of history. A woman yelled at Nick at the veterinarian’s office, “I’m not going to get you sick!” She was mask-less. Too bad she doesn’t know masks also protect her. A different part of the world, here, everywhere. Many people are upset, though, not just us. Today’s wonder may seem trivial. A fuzzy fast caterpillar. But maybe trivial is what we need.