Sheila BenderinShort. Sweet. Valuable.At Port Townsend’s Historic Chinese GardensMy niece and I walk along madrona trees, fir, and pine. At the site of the old Chinese Gardens, a deer crosses our path, pauses to stare at…2 min read·Mar 12, 2024----
Sheila BenderinShort. Sweet. Valuable.Table of TreasuresIt is narrow under a window but long and hosts many gifts: a terra cotta bowl of small cacti, the orchid I must water from the bottom of…1 min read·Mar 3, 2024----
Sheila BenderinShort. Sweet. Valuable.Checkerboard— Evenly-sized squares in two different colors placed in alternating positions1 min read·Mar 2, 2024--1--1
Sheila BenderinShort. Sweet. Valuable.Ancient BlenderMy mother’s new caregiver calls. He wants to make my mother a coffee milkshake because that is the flavor of ice cream in her freezer. But…2 min read·Jan 27, 2024--2--2
Sheila BenderinLong. Sweet. Valuable.Thank you, Doris Gates for Blue WillowI was reading a magazine article recently in which authors wrote about pivotal books they’ve read. What book would I name? Immediately, I…5 min read·Jan 21, 2024--1--1
Sheila BenderinShort. Sweet. Valuable.WordsFlabby epiglottis, the reason my infant sister choked on food and needed watching. My pre-med-trained father standing over her with a knife…1 min read·Jan 16, 2024----
Sheila BenderinLong. Sweet. Valuable.Inquest by PoetryWarning: Due to copyright rules, links are provided for reading the four poems selected below in their entirety. If you should skip this…3 min read·Dec 28, 2023--1--1
Sheila BenderinShort. Sweet. Valuable.Pushing a Baggage Cart at the AirportI think of my father rolling my first bicycle back and forth to be sure the training wheels he attached were secure, then firmly holding…1 min read·Dec 22, 2023--1--1
Sheila BenderinShort. Sweet. Valuable.On My Lot in LifeI will add a bird feeder full of sunflower and thistle seeds for the finches, golden ones and the ones with red heads. I’ll sow clover for…1 min read·Dec 1, 2023--2--2