by Barbara Clarke | September 15, 2023
By the next spring I had to agree—the house was too small. Just before we left, I bought Christopher Isherwood’s latest book, Kathleen and Frank, a collection of his parent’s diaries and letters. I took the book in a plastic bag outside with me each time I worked in... 
by Barbara Clarke | September 1, 2023
Featured Image at top: Mom and Dad at Lake Geneva College Camp – 1950s In August, my parents arrived for a visit from the Midwest. The canyon was in full bloom, flowers on every vine. Our front garden was a painter’s pallet of colors and butterflies. Even weekdays now... 
by Barbara Clarke | August 15, 2023
In early June, when our ancient clothes dryer died, I restrung the aged clothesline poles and hung out the laundry. Hiding behind a sheet and then jumping out was a given for the girls. Whichever daughter was taken by surprise, she would scream with pleasure at the... 
by Barbara Clarke | August 1, 2023
As the spring days moved into early summer, we made our way past the seven houses to the end of our block, down the steps that led to a tunnel under Pacific Coast highway, and out on to the beach. The girls loved to shout in the underpass and hear their voices bounce... 
by Barbara Clarke | July 15, 2023
“And some famous old queer lives up there.” “Really.” I squinted into the sunlight where the rental agent pointed and could see the edge of a patio to the right on the hill above us. We were standing in what he called the backyard—a long slab of concrete behind the... 
by Barbara Clarke | July 1, 2023
I couldn’t stop thinking about a short notice I read in my local newspaper and wanted to share this in a post. “Runaway youth in Washington State will now have the option to defer shelters and host homes from contacting their parents if they leave home to seek gender...