I’m beyond thrilled to announce I’ve got a new essay in The Hopper’s gorgeous print edition, out now.

It’s about a military base, kind of. Also snowy plovers, burrowing owls, letting your hair down at the beach, and my complicated relationship with the Star-Spangled Banner. Here’s a teaser:

If you love place-based writing and photography (this issue includes, among other highlights, former US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, and luminous artist Sarah Platenius) you can buy a copy here. It’s a gorgeous magazine, with pages that feel good in your hands. (And smell good, too.)

Are you in the Portland (Oregon) area? They carry The Hopper at all the Powells outlets, and also Annie Bloom’s.