Author Archives: riverjdougherty

You know when you’re going through your stuff and you find things that either start or stop your heartbeat. The bracelet, feels like another lifetime ago, I had liked it, put it on right away, and as any of my favorite pieces of jewelry you’ve owned (except my grandmother’s ring, which is in the exactContinue reading “somehow twelve rosaries”

the sightof the small tomedium sized lake in my town is a miracle it’s silence is comfort, it’s fellow travelers quiet and respectfuli find myself holding my breath so much more these daysit’s so hard to breathe, you know?but in the right light and the right warmth and the right breezethat small alone place wantsContinue reading “lake: one”

I loved stepping out at that time, maybe 7:00, I’d see gentle tendrils of the night, but the color pallet wasn’t quite there bright things were still too bright and things that were out of place were not obscured by shadow yet. There were still children out, riding their bikes, enjoying a different kind ofContinue reading “may 10th 2020 8:34/quiet colors”

She walked through her life feeling just off, like nothing really fit. She knew she was “gay”, that was the only word she had for what she was until she found some education about her own people. She learned about people like her that felt in between, neither here nor there, and others that feltContinue reading “on the way to River”

I’ve been thinking a lot about what to write about today, it’s the anniversary of my grandmothers death, but now we have our own ways of mourning that don’t need to be shared at the moment. The one thing that does consistently come up in conversations I’ve been having lately are with friends that areContinue reading “Tips from the Traumatized”

I feel like we’re on a needle and whichever the wind blows is where we’re going. Out of control, but clinging to each other (not literally obviously) hoping we all weather through, together. Some of my worst fears are happening. Isolation from those I love, being trapped in a house that I’m so grateful for,Continue reading “a thousand times over”

It’s been an extremely strange few weeks, I was sick for two and a half, that made the time pass quicker oddly, even though I was completely miserable I think the loneliness is starting to get to me, facebook, phones, texting, is no longer working for me. Everyone is feeling it, everyone wants out, outContinue reading “Pebbles”

I’ve started a project, no promise I’m going to finish it but I’m making photos exclusively in my immediate neighborhood. In this case how long it would take me to get somewhere and back in an hour and a half. The feeling outside is heavy, and I’m working to capture that. Everything is empty evenContinue reading

It’s been a couple of weeks now, and besides the abject terror and the boredom (which is a truly bizarre combination), it’s been okay here. I try to touch base with my people a couple of times a week, I’m anxious about pretty much everything. I’m sad and angry, and exhausted. I feel like we’reContinue reading “Just Some Letters on the Page”

It is day 11 for me, yesterday I didn’t have enough to put down to justify writing. I’m not sure if today is any different, we shall see. I took a drive to the pharmacy today, and it was glorious. It was also terrifying and strange as I and the other customers (there weren’t many)Continue reading “a very different life/shame it had to be a pandemic”