Kevin sits in an empty house with gray walls.

THE YELLOW WALLS ARE GONE

The yellow walls are gone. I sold my house. I remember the first roll of yellow paint on the gray walls when I moved in six years ago. It was my first mark on the house—on my house—and it was terrifying and bold. When I finished painting, I looked at the colored walls and grinned […]

THE YELLOW WALLS ARE GONE Read More »

Portrait of Kevin standing in front of the Seattle skyline and Lake Union.

THIRTY WHEN I RETURN

I went to cry in peace in a bathroom stall but someone next to me was blaring a true crime podcast. I couldn’t hear myself over the loud and detailed recounting of a knife twisted in some unsuspecting person’s chest. This bathroom didn’t need more grief. I left to find a quieter spot for my feelings and ran into the Air Margaritaville. The plastic palm trees framed an overpriced and underwhelming carefree fantasy at the beverage bar, and I couldn’t bring myself to believe it. I turned to the nearest empty gate, tempering my leaky eyes with some deep breathing.

THIRTY WHEN I RETURN Read More »

Tacoma skyline at sunset

22:00

I marvel at the daylight lingering at this late hour. The sunset scatters into the gray June clouds, reminding me that summer is here, even if the breezy rain tries to deceive me, and even if I’m unprepared for another turn of the seasons. Time progression feels amnesiac lately, lost somewhere in a slurry of

22:00 Read More »

Skyline of Downtown Seattle at sunset.

SEVEN YEARS LATER

I moved here seven years ago. A few weeks back, I was in Downtown Seattle to attend a conference. My commute—now infrequent due to pandemic-induced remote work—was a lengthy and brisk bus ride in the morning darkness, but it felt energizing to be back in the city.  I got off the bus and began my

SEVEN YEARS LATER Read More »

Morning Sounder commute. Passengers are boarding the train.

NEW NORMAL

Lately, I have been commuting to the office more often. By now, over two years into this pandemic, I have read so much about the ever-changing landscape of remote work versus the office: The think pieces on culture shifts and career impacts; the viral LinkedIn posts clapping back at policy changes; the latest-and-greatest news from

NEW NORMAL Read More »

Scroll to Top