The Extended Hand

The Extended Hand is a "contemplative memoir" that covers two seemingly separate lives.

When Robert answers the phone, he has trouble understanding his neighbor's question: "What do you mean, there's a notice in today's paper listing our condo for sale?" Through the kitchen windows, he can see the ocean waves rolling in toward the Maui beach. Surely there must be a mistake.

But when he calls his wife Marti on the eastside of Seattle, he learns the truth: "Yes, I filed for bankruptcy."

Once, as...