I used to hate reading. 7th grade. 8th grade. Still hated it in high school. And now? Now I don’t even have time to read— but I’m trying to make time for it. Funny how that works. But back then, there was one book. I heard it was Stephen King’s favorite. I didn’t read Stephen… Continue reading

I’m sitting here drinking my coffee. Blue chair. Laptop in front of me. My blue futon next to me—with a ripped shirt thrown over it because my orange furball likes to claim it as his spot. Morning light coming in. Just sitting here. Thinking. I don’t read much. But if I had to pick— I’d… Continue reading

It’s 4:45 p.m. I just finished eating. Leg and thigh, some beans, a side salad. Water bottle next to me. The wind is hitting my face, so I close my eyes for a second. Somewhere off to my left, I hear a police siren. For a moment… everything slows down. And I realize—this is kind… Continue reading

It’s 8:32 in the morning. I’m sitting in front of my laptop. My cat’s in the window. Sunlight coming in. The coffee grinder going in the background. A little bit of air slipping in from outside. I’m trying to write this fast. Because I already have to go. The van needs a brake check. Maybe… Continue reading

I remember watching the Olympics as a kid. Not the whole thing. Just the moments. There was the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. They weren’t favored. One of the gymnasts had an injured ankle. Still went out there. Still performed. Still landed. And that moment sealed the gold. That’s what stayed with me. Not the score.… Continue reading

People talk about improving a community like it’s one thing. Like if you explain it enough, people will understand. But I don’t think it works like that. People don’t change as a group. They change one by one. You can’t force someone to see themselves differently. You can only offer them the option. We’re not… Continue reading

There was one strange positive during COVID. The freeways were empty. I do deliveries all over Los Angeles— the 110, the 405, the 10. Usually, they’re so packed… if you breathe, you’ll smell somebody else’s breath. That’s how bad it gets. But during that time? It was smooth. You could go from point A to… Continue reading

The first hour of my day feels like a rocket rumbling under the covers… about to take off. Destination unknown. Then— beep, beep, beep. My iPhone alarm goes off at 6 a.m. It’s still dark outside. Darker than usual since they pushed the clock forward. I open the curtain. My cat Simba is there. We… Continue reading

I think what makes a person unique is the ability to look somebody in the eye and hear them speak to you in whatever tone they choose, while recognizing that their tone may be rooted in a past we do not see. But if that person becomes conscious of it and is able to explain… Continue reading

A lot of people name their kids after themselves. You become a junior. I’ve always hated that. I don’t know why—it just feels… heavy. Like you’re passing something down that someone didn’t ask for. So when I think about something being named after me… I don’t think about a kid. I think about a movie.… Continue reading