We don’t push too hard Making our way around the 17k loop, endless coffee shops, conical hatted flower sellers, the mist-shrouded lake always on our right On a clear day, we can see straight across. Today, the mist encompasses all. But, even today, there is so much to see here We pause at the ornate, …
Author Archives: Radutti
no
The stout man swaggers down the impossibly narrow lane Black hair, cropped short, white mask, tied tight. He is unconcerned With me, with the stray dog meandering by, with a task that demands little – but receives all – of his attention. An indifference to anything else. With precise intent, he drops the blue plastic …
gone quiet
The faded pink horse and yellow butterfly are deserted Suspended just above the ground on the rusty swing set, they creak with promise in the breeze But not a kid in sight We take a chance that the narrow pathway is a short cut, not a dead end. And, this time, we are lucky. We …
After Burner
I slide out of the steady stream of motorbikes and ease my scooter onto the tiled sidewalk. I halt, and peek. The hotel where we landed so gently months ago on the left. The low plastic chairs, stainless tables, steaming giant metal pot where we had our first true pho, dead ahead. This is a …
spinner
My wheels are spinning Cognitive load is real A virtual meeting with 60 colleagues. But keep your distance, y’all. Plenty of gratitude and smiles, and a sense of ‘we’re in this together’ fuel me for a while. It’s not the same as being together, in a real room, but it’s better than nothing. After that, …
social distancing
I’m living in a 2-dimensional world. The keys clack gently and I respond to another thread. Thread. What’s the plan for Inquiry next week? Thread. Can you respond to that parent email? Thread. We need to strategize to streamline our communication. All consciousness, all ideas, all trapped in a 13-inch screen. Unraveling, before me. And …
it’s these moments
Elephant nestles in next to me, that ‘just showered’ smell lingering throughout his room. Excuse me he says after gulping down the rest of the water It is in these moments, before sleep, making sense of a busy day, when his train of thought steams up and sets forth from the station Papa did you …
bike pedaler
Mr. Dung’s shop is waiting for me, again. I pass it every day. And every day I vow to go to another shop, a place where I might get better parts, better prices. But, when I think about it, probably not better service. Nestled quietly between the temple and the most impossible tiny corner store …
do caution
The workers lazily amble back from lunch. It’s Sunday for us, work day for them. Do they ever get a day off? The corrugated, graffiti’d walls tower over the sidewalk, masking the monstrous new edifice on its way to our hood. Stretching for hundreds of meters, the block is blocked from view. Except for the …
What if
The heat is coming I can already sense a difference. Three days ago, a chill winter day with a cool, wet breeze. I bundled up on the ride home but still caught chill. Today’s a different animal. Humidity and heat peek through the hazy sky and, frisbee tucked under my arm, sweat leaking, I make …
Get Up Eight 