Sunday, August 30, 2009







Ixtlali Samuel Banjo Jose Cuevas-Sullivan

was born and died on August 17, 2009,

at 19 1/2 inches, 6 pounds and 2 ounces.

I am not sure how this could be.

You were a very strong kicker.

And look at your hairline.

You still insist we pronouce

"Samuel" the Mexican way.

You craved me chocolate mint ice cream,

Will Ferrell movies

and smooth jazz.

Smooth jazz?

You have six names

so I think maybe you would have been a "more" and not a "less" type of person.

I wanted to play Queen for you, and show you the horses.

It would have been fun.

I wanted to fight for you but that is just

my story.

You have your own.

Your first name means "star" in Aztec and this is where I have placed you.

I hope you don't mind


Sunday, August 02, 2009




North to the future.



About Me

I came to Minneapolis from southern California this May to help my 88-year-old mother care for my 86-year-old father. He fell last November, and then declined cognitively for a month as his bones healed at a rehab facility under quarantine. He hasn't undeclined. Before retiring in the 1990s, he was a theater critic, & still seems to have some of his self-confidence and wit alongside vascular dementia, Parkinsonisms, incontinence and real trouble walking. Given his otherwise-ok health, he might still have some tolerable years ahead, though with new parameters. My mom's a novelist. She seems made of iron.