Each year’s Hot Flashes–between 2002 and 2007, at any rate–has a Cafe Press store. Visit the Shop link on this web site to find out more.
January
Recipe for Joy
Clean snow + sweetened condensed milk = snow cream
Happy kids.
Happy life.
Happy New Year.
February
Perspective
The sky is gray.
The slush is gray.
The lake is gray.
But what if we called them “silver”? What a rich world it is!
March
Dialog
SHAKESPEARE: Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!
WIND: Okay.
SHAKESPEARE: Enough, already.
WIND: Too bad about you.
(keeps on blowing)
April
Champion
Sama halts, enemy soldiers coming at her.
She drags her dagger across her bicep.
Her blood floats into the air and forms a huge red dragon.
Sama has never been defeated.
May
Final Curtain
Best play I’ve been in. Best cast ever.
“A toast,” I say, “to us.”
We drink.
I can’t bear to say goodbye.
If the poison works, I won’t have to.
June
Surprise
“She’s smart, beautiful, and she can cook,” he said, smiling proudly at me.
That’s when I told him. “I was born a man. But I’m a woman in my heart.”
Silent all dinner, he finally said, “In mine, too.”
July
Safety Tip
If you get lost in the woods, they say, stay in one place.
So I am.
Not difficult, with one foot in a bear trap.
August
Remembrance
“Remember that President who got in trouble over DNA on a dress?”
“Sure.”
“Remember the swimsuit Sue left here?”
“…Yeah.”
“Remember that divorce lawyer I know?”
September
Migration
When it’s cold, we go south.
When it’s hot, we go north.
Follow the geese, follow the crops, follow the Dream.
October
Leaving
Faded. Skeletal. Withered.
If I fall from this high place, I will not drift, but I will crunch beneath the heel of mortality.
November
Gift List
For a high hill, for a deep moat, for strong walls, for strong soldiers, for well-made bows, for countless arrows, for secure water, for massive stores of food, we thank Thee.
For needing them, not so much.
December
Eternal Question
He entered, leaving the portal wide.
“Close the door,” she said. “Were you born in a barn?”
And Jesus gave her such a look.
Go to the Flashbacks link for all years’ Hot Flashes.