[Masthead] Fog/Mist ~ 55°F   High: 76°F ~ Low: 61°F Tuesday,
Oct. 6, 2015  Community writing program spotlight  Friday,
February 1, 2013  Unwelcome Guest  My Polish friend Ruta
referred to her jeep as "a playhouse for ze animals." It was an
open jeep that she kept parked out by the barn. Chickens roosted
in it; goats climbed on it. She was right when she said, "Ze
Jeep needs to air out a little." But I had to borrow it to get
to the gallery,  After my nose stopped quivering, I settled into
the rhythm of the hills, comfortably swaying to the suicide
curves of the two-lane. But, as I happily rolled around the
hillsides, a strange sensation was coming into my consciousness.
Was my foot going to sleep or was something leaning against my
ankle? The hairs on my unshaven leg flittered, as if a
lightweight scarf was softly ruffling around my joint. While
still in innocence, I glanced downward, only to see the most
unacceptable, most intimidating, most dangerous thing I could
have imagined. My body went rigid.  My min