When I was in 8th grade, a friend told me that I looked like a rabbit in my class photo.  That wasn’t exactly the look I was going for.  This memory surfaced recently when I was playing gangster moll Edna Murray in the latest Landmark Center history play.   Edna’s nickname was “Rabbit.” Well, “Rabbit” was …

If extraterrestrial cultural anthropologists are studying contemporary American society, they probably think extroverts and introverts are mortal enemies. Or rival NFL teams.  I don’t want to be a hater or rile up any argument. I do think we should all be careful not to assume we know what another person’s thoughts or experiences are.  Personally,…

It’s one week until the Twin Cities Marathon!  What I should do during this week to prepare: Things I should NOT do: Silly, but mostly harmless, although potentially annoying, things I WILL do: Something I really, truly, SHOULD do:

I. Can’t. Do. This.  That thought kept pounding through my being like a drum beat, which I guess was appropriate, as I was also literally playing the drums. But it wasn’t the drum playing I was worried about–at least not so worried that I didn’t think I could go–but the drumming while singing lead during…

I don’t have a good reason for running the 2022 Twin Cities Marathon (about two and a half weeks away).  That doesn’t mean I have a bad reason (although I really don’t have room in my life for another Finisher’s shirt or medal). I just don’t have a clear, inspirational reason that’s pushing me to…

When I was in fifth grade, I read a short story as part of the Junior Great Books program by Ray Bradbury called “All Summer in a Day.” (Inspiration for a previous blog post: https://amyluedtke.wordpress.com/2020/04/09/all-apocalypse-in-a-day/). All these many years later, I still remember that story–a rather horrifying little tale about a girl who misses the…

Deciding what to consume at the State Fair always causes me at least some anxiety. So it’s no surprise considerable time and thought went into my decision to try a Martini beer. But once I finally decided to take the plunge and purchase the beer (I wanted to try at least one oddball fair offering…

Can a pair of pants save the world? No. But they can give strangers the opportunity to do something nice for each other. To make each other’s day, maybe even several days.  This is just a little story about how I procured a pair of pants that I really wanted thanks to the kindness of…

“I haven’t heard you yet, but I think you’re great.” –Bella, young fan/potential fan of our band Wow. That statement conveys such optimism, such possibility, such encouragement. It was proclaimed by Bella, a girl of about eight who lives in the neighborhood where our band, Pigeons From Hell, practices in our lead guitarist’s garage.  Imagine…

I’m not comfortable touching a stranger’s sausage patty.  I actually pride myself in not being overly squeamish, but I’m not really looking to touch anybody’s sausage patty–they’re greasy, even slimy, by design. But the sausage patties were on my windshield, in the context of Egg McMuffin-like sandwiches, accompanied by several unopened packages of chocolate mini-donuts.…