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With the new year comes a chance to reflect and change

Leonard Cohen sang, “It’s four in the morning/the end of December/I’m writing you now/Just to see if you’re better…” in the mournful ‘70s tune “Famous Blue Raincoat”. Actually, here in the last embers of 2013, it’s more like late afternoon, and we—Ramona, ...

15 Jan 2014 - Melissa Favara
The new addition to the family isn’t what was expected

In August, Ramona and I drove to Salem to meet Regis, a fluffy little puppy whose picture we’d spied on a rescue society’s website. He would be the yin to our Newfoundland-mix Vera’s yang, when we brought her near-toxic level cuteness home eight years ago ...

4 Dec 2013 - Melissa Favara
Saying ‘yes’ to Michigan, after saying ‘no’ for all these years

Back in the '80s, when I was growing up in Saginaw, Mich., then home to something like eight factory sites for General Motors, the state motto — emblazoned on billboards, T-shirts and bumper stickers — was “Say Yes to Michigan.” I can still hear the ...

15 Aug 2013 - Melissa Favara
Sometimes happiness comes from accepting the roll of the dice

I don’t believe in soul mates. At least, not in theory: I think of my life, my reality, as the one that won out among many possible realities that could be entirely different if I’d made one infinitely small decision elsewhere. As it happens, I decided to ...

25 Jun 2013 - Melissa Favara
A few ghosts, a little chaos, the playground of a rich youth

This isn’t garbage. It’s totally useful,” says Marshall, the father of my child and my partner in crime, life, and everything. “It’s not garbage.” Our back gate is open to the alleyway, and a borrowed box truck full of lawn debris, rotten lumber, and sund ...

5 Jun 2013 - Melissa Favara
Feeling OK, even when you’re sure you’re doing it wrong

By Melissa Favara, Contributing Columnist I love teaching 20th Century American Literature in the Pacific Northwest in the spring. Spring term generally is great because it starts off gray and murky, and the students seem kind of draggy, and everyone gets ...

7 May 2013 - Melissa Favara
Learning how to filter tragedy for a child’s view of the world

by Melissa Favara, Contributing Writer Friday morning, Dec. 14, I was in my old Volvo driving around Vancouver, WA, trying to find my colleague Alyssa’s house — her daughter, Sophia, was selling me her barely-used “Pink Cadillac” bicycle for $50 for Ramon ...

22 Dec 2012 - Street Roots Staff
What better time of year for us to list our ‘gratefuls'

by Melissa Favara, Contributing Columnist So, we had a spontaneous deep bedroom cleaning today. We sorted clothes for Goodwill and hand-me-downs for little Maret down the street; we excavated year-old New Yorkers and dust cattle from beneath our bed; we e ...

5 Dec 2012 - Street Roots
Making discoveries and rediscoveries all over again

Making discoveries and rediscoveries all over again By Melissa Favara, Contributing Columnist Forty-five minutes into the English Department subcommittee meeting on drafting a grading rubric for the English 101 final essay assignment, I folded up my noteb ...

8 Nov 2012 - Street Roots
The kindness of strangers, and the wisdom of a child

The kindness of strangers, and the wisdom of a child It’s been a weird few weeks. Starting with a raccoon and ending with Peter Pan, Ramona and I have been plugged into the karmic wheel from every angle — and it’s been quite a ride. It all started with a ...

11 Oct 2012 - Street Roots