Author Archives: Judith Anne Pettersen

Musically, I’m all over the place. There aren’t many limits to what I like, though once upon a time, I couldn’t handle loud music at all. As the years passed and heavy metal came into being, I realized that I really didn’t mind ACDC, or Metallica. It’s the volume that’s an issue. My older sisterContinue reading “Can I Get a Witness?”

Well, not really. More like I met it out on the lake, shortly after dropping my butt into my kayak. That’s how you do it…you put in a leg and then drop your bottom. It doesn’t matter what your other leg does, because you’re already secure. Anyway, I was paddling merrily along the shore, staringContinue reading “A Loon Walks Into a Bar”

It’s been a month since I’ve written a blog post. And in case you didn’t know it yet, we’re in the middle of a pandemic. You’d laugh if you could see me heading into Walmart or the Co-op. I adjust my mask…yes, I said mask…looking like I’m about to rob the place. This is theContinue reading “Dear Clarence, Who Art in Heaven”

According to the Dalai Lama, or any Buddhist worth their salt, I have become the moral equivalent of Hannibal Lecter. In my previous life (ie: last summer) I was in total agreement with the dharma of interdependence and compassion regarding all beings. For example. I have a bug catcher from Lee Valley and it hasContinue reading “Bug City”

I’m not really in Albuquerque. By the time I post this, it might not even be Wednesday. I wouldn’t really know, because I am losing track of the days. At the beginning of the pandemic I should have started scratching them out on the wall of my cave like Tom Hanks did in the movie,Continue reading “If It’s Wednesday, I’m in Albuquerque”

Some people find their gardens restful. In the summer I feel the same way, but in spring, I find my plants to be very whiny. Think kindergarteners crossed with junior high kids, with a few immature high schoolers thrown in for good measure. It starts with the potted plants. I’m planting petunias with a coupleContinue reading “Everyone Shut the Hell Up”

A few years ago, after a fraught experience putting furniture together, I wrote an essay titled, The Devil is Swedish, His Name is Ikea. This past week I realized that in the world of furniture assembly, the lord of Hell is still running the show. It’s the same manuals with badly drawn diagrams and tinyContinue reading “Assembly Line at the Ninth Gate”

Last weekend I got caught up watching a movie on TV. I’m fairly certain it will never end up on Netflix or Prime, because it was awful. A Mutant World had the following problems. Bad acting Terrible directing Dreadful script Unbelievable storyline Accidentally hilarious special effects and costuming (The mutants looked like they were fleeingContinue reading “It’s a Mutant, Mutant World”

There’s something strange going on with me. It has to do with prayer, but I also have some questions for my atheist friends. Like, what are your go to phrases for hard times? I tend to cry ‘O God,’ when things get tough. Or even, ‘Help me Jesus!’ if the situation feels dire. This canContinue reading “Oh, The Void!”

Thank you to Broadview magazine for printing my essay about my husband’s last day of life. I’m so grateful to the editors for their help. I’ve subscribed to this wonderful journal for years, and never imagined I would one day share a story there. Here is the link. How my husband and I spent ourContinue reading “The Last Day”