We are still hard at work on my novel Sweetland, and so haven’t added any new material some time now. We hope to get back to it soon.

We’re not sure if we truly have any readers, because we never hear from you. But if you are out ther, have a good remainder of the summer, and we’ll see you in October.

Duane Poncy

     ”Martinez,“ I said.
     
     ”Martinez,“ the widow murmured. ”Here, this is the M cabinet.“ She was too short to pull out the top drawer and look inside. Though I’m sure if her back wasn’t so bent, she could have easily done so.
     
     I pulled out the drawer and flipped through the old files, turning aside to sneeze twice before I got to the MAR’s. Finally, there it was, Martinez, F. I removed the file and set it down on the examining table. I figured it was a better choice than going for the desk. That was sacred ground, I’m sure.
     
     Felicia Martinez was a white woman according to the file. That didn’t surprise me. I was used to being regarded as caucasian because my mother was Latina, from south of the Mexican border even though she was actually born in the US, according to her anyway and my birth certificate. For some reason that border makes you caucasian even if your ancestors were indigenous people, Indian, Native American, First People, whatever name you have for the people who had been here for thousands of years before the Europeans came.
     
     I flipped slowly through the pages of Felicia’s file. Dr Wills’ handwriting was hard to read and the ink was faded. It looked like he used a fountain pen. I didn’t understand a lot of what I was reading. There were some complications with the birth, though. I was able to read that. I asked Mrs Wills to see if she could make out what the notations meant. My mother had hemorraged, but recovered, it appeared, in a few days time. Each page as I went back further in the file, was an earlier date in time and represented a checkup. The bottom page listed all the usual stats, height, weight, blood pressure, blood type. The doctor or his nurse had written down the height wrong. No way was Felicia Martinez 5’6”. My mother didn’t break five foot. At fourteen, I already towered over her and I was barely, 5’2“.
     
     There was no mention of anyone else in the file, excepting medical histories and they meant nothing to me. Faith suggested I copy them down anyway and handed me her notebook. There was a mention of my father. It said he was a hispanic male and that he was healthy. It said his own father had hypothyroidism and was blind in one eye from a farm accident. My father was 18. My mother was 17. She had good teeth and strong bones. The doctor didn’t anticipate any problems. Throughout it appeared to be a routine pregnancy.
     
     “Do you remember my mother?” I did not expect the widow to remember, but I didn’t think I would be coming back and if I didn’t ask the question, I wouldn’t be done here.
     
     “Gracious no. Why it’s been how long? Forty years?” The widow smiled sweetly as she insulted me. I’m almost sure she didn’t mean to.
     
     “Thirty-four.” I said.
     
     “Well now, there you are. Thirty-four years. Doctor saw a lot of patients. He was a general practitioner, you know, not just an obstetrician. This building was his hospital.” She went on proudly. “A private hospital. Not too many in this part of the state, I can tell you. People came all the way from Boise, Idaho to see my husband, to be treated in this hospital.”
     
     “How did my mother afford a private hospital?”
     
     For a moment the widow seemed confused then she smiled again. “Maybe the father’s family paid.”
     
     I didn’t think there was anything more for me to find in the records of Dr James Wills. I closed the medical file and put it back in the cabinet.
     
     I thanked Mrs Wills for her kindness and Faith and I left. Rockie was already in the back seat of the car when we came out of the former hospital. “Let’s go to a park and eat,” I said, ignoring her.

 
     ”I’m,“ I started to say thirty-four, but thought better of it and said. ”Yes, I am.“ Rockie nodded her approval and patted me on the back.
 
     ”Well come on in then. I’ll show you where Doctor kept his records. I helped him with that, so I know where everything is. I don’t know that you will find what you are looking for.“ She led us through her living room and down a hall past her open bedroom door. A hooked rug on the floor, a homemade quilt on the bed. Everything faded and covered with a light veneer of dust. Desert homes always have dust, it can’t be helped. It seeps in through cracks so small you can’t imagine. Fine, powdery alkaline dust. Rockie lay on the old quilt and waved me on with that drifty smile she always gave me when she was being mysterious.

                      May 23, 1845

A Clamor in the Night

     The pots and pans made a horrible clamor in the middle of the night. Uncle Luke got up to see what it was, and it turned out to be a deer who had wandered into our camp.

     Aunt Marie was consternated. She said if we are to be awakened every night by some curious creature happening onto our path, then it would became a nuisance. I must say that I quite agree with her.

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     Papa said that he and Mr. Pembrook would work on a solution.

     It rained a little last evening, and we had to cross many small creeks today. Uncle Luke’s wagon became stuck in one. It took about an hour to dig it out of the mud.

We traveled only 6 miles today.

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Taurus
(April 21-May 20)

If you had 10 bucks for every time someone said, “I knew you were a Taurus, you’re so strong,” you could repair all the potholes in a medium-sized American city. You’re not strong, are you? Inside that tough exterior, below that thick bull neck, somewhere in your flannel covered chest, beat’s the heart of a lonely, desperate man trying to escape the dreary, miserable existence he’s got himself into because you’ve never summoned enough courage to propel yourself out of the hell you’ve been basking in all your life. Hey, listen, you have no idea how many people feel just like you do.

Gemini
(May 21-June 20)

Every mirror is a mystery, an alchemy of liquid and metal, a place where ghosts hover and the face you thought you had disappears from one day to the next. The Greeks made up these two boys, brothers, and made them warriors and killed them in battle so that they could name stars after them. Beware of stargazers and warrior makers, especially around the 10th of the month. Oh, and there is a cracked board on your back porch that you’ll want to take care of before the 12th or you may find yourself getting that tetanus shot a lot sooner than you planned.

Cancer
(June 21-July 22)

Sunny days are in your future this month. Things couldn’t get much better for you and in fact they probably won’t. You’ve pretty much peaked. Lucky you got as high as you did before the fall. I’m not saying you’re going to fall far, but let’s just say that you’ll be tightening your belt and trading in the Mercedes SUV before the end of summer.

Leo
(July 23-Aug. 22)

The 5th of the month will bring some disturbing news, but things will get better by the 13th. Sorry, I just don’t have anything else to tell you. The stars are pretty quiet for Leo, right now.

Virgo
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You are going to meet the love of your life in June if you go to the library on the 9th. If not, it will be a good five or ten years before you meet up with someone you are remotely compatible with. You will decide to get rid of all the extra stuff you’ve been hanging onto since you moved out of that big old house in Nyssa and came to Germaine. It’s time. It’ll feel good, trust me, oh and I’m willing to pay as much as $8 for that turntable. I mean, what are you going to use it for now that your ex has all the records?

Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You’ve been considering it ever since you went to Portland and saw the Cirque, so what are you waiting for? The stars are lined up like ants on a sugar trail. You will be a fabulous dresser and you speak French. I recommend leaving on the 16th. Ciaio et bon chance.

Scorpio
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

You are mellowing like a fine wine. The edges are coming off and you are making friends at last. You will meet a new friend at the grange dance on the 11th. Not lover. Friend. This friend will be with you for a long time and will play a really important part in your life, enhancing your career and your personal growth.

Sagittarius
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

The arrow doesn’t fall far from the bow as they say. You are as like your third cousin twice removed as a peach pit is to a tulip. If you can make sense of that you are more psychic than I am. Don’t blame me, I just write what I see in the stars and they are perturberant this month, just like it says at the top of the page.

Capricorn
(Dec.22-Jan. 19)

You’re children are lucky to be born in this place. Remember that the next time one of them whines about not being able to go to a real mall–and they will whine about it the minute school lets out on 6th. Just look at them and smile. Give them a big hug and say, no one is tormenting you, blowing up your house, or denying your humanity. Then give them that list of chores you’ve been working on all spring.

Aquarius
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Water is thin, but heavy. It holds up huge ships. That’s you, transparent as a ghost, carrying all the ships of tomorrow on your slender shoulders. Relief is on the way. The shift is about to change. The whistle is going to blow. Lay down your burden. The cavalry is cresting the hill. You can ride off into the sunset. It’s a minute past noon and the bad guys are too late. Be careful if you eat out on the 26th.

Pisces
(Feb. 19-March 20)

There is a reason the fish is last. Fish is best served fresh even when it is consuming itself. You’ve been quite successful reducing your carbon footprint. We all thank you. You will have a surprise visit this month from Uncle Wes whom you haven’t seen for 32 years. He’ll bring you a present he has been carrying around for almost that long. You may not find it very useful.

If Your Birthday Is in June

You are a sun worshipper extraordinaire. You skin is suffering and looks more like the skin of a crocodile than the largest organ of the human body. There is this ooky, slick stuff called sun block. Most grocery stores carry it. I’d buy some and use it if I were you. Just saying.

Disclaimer: This horoscope is presented for entertainment purposes only. The Germaine Truth does not endorse any particular system of divination.

                    May 22, 1845

We Meet Some Travelers

     This morning we met some travelers who were coming back from Oregon. There were six wagons, camped out along the Little Blue. They said that another company of nearly forty wagons was only two days ahead of us. Uncle Luke said he thought someone should ride ahead and try to make arrangements to join their company, but Papa said “No! We can do it ourselves.”

     Uncle Luke grumbled. I think he is not too happy with Papa. Widow McCoy agreed with Papa. She said that she was afraid that the price would be too dear, and she had little money left to squander.

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     Papa asked the travelers if they had come across any “hostiles.” I think he was talking about the Indians. The travelers said that everyone they met was friendly, and that they had no problems to speak of. This was heartening news for Mama.

     When we set up camp this afternoon, Papa and Mr. Pembrook hung up some pans on a tree, with a string tied to them. When I asked Mr. Pembrook about it, he said that if someone were to sneak into our camp at night, they will trip on the string, and the pans will bang together and warn us.

We traveled 9 miles today.

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