The Road Ahead

The weak light of the sun filters through the clouds, radiating a soft glow on a grey November day. Soggy amber leaves thread the groove beneath the curb of the sidewalk. The road stretches clear and quiet ahead. A cool breeze rushes over my face, each breath reminding me how lucky I am to be…

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The Gold Outside My Window

“We never saw it coming. We never could have guessed that a virus would change our world. The possibility only existed in movies, and there was always a dynamic hero that came to the rescue with a cure.”  – J.G. Chayko – Imagine RA Network: Chronic Illness in a Pandemic Life. The year is 2020….

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Harvesting Life

The turning of the year is fast approaching. The darkness emerges a little earlier each day, the mornings are damp and shrouded in a ghostly mist, Mother Nature dresses in her finest colors and summons the howling wind to whip up a potpourri of brilliant splendor for our eyes. The burnt light from the harvest…

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Shadows in Twilight: Arthritis Awareness Month

It’s almost the end of September. The mornings linger in darkness a little longer, the dew sparkles on the grass, the sun sets a little earlier, an evening chill pierces the dusk. The summer is behind us as we fall into autumn, and it has been a quiet month. The summer was eventful and full…

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The Leading Lady

Beyond the thick red curtain, I can hear the murmur of the audience. I walk the stage through my opening scene, running the lines in my head, my usual ritual before the start of each show. I wonder if I’ll remember my blocking; I wonder how the audience will react; I wonder if I will…

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I Do, I Can, and I Will: A Pandemic Wedding

The warm glow in the sky announced the sun’s presence, as it gracefully crested the mountain tops, casting a rosy blush over the surface of the ocean. A breeze swept softly off the water, cleansing the air with a salty bouquet. Two bald eagles sat in the treetops watching the figures below encroach on the…

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A Pandemic Summer, An Extraordinary Life

Springtime came in quietly this year, lush with vibrant life and cherry blossoms. It was an unusual spring. The commerce that ran our daily lives was suspended in the web of an inhospitable virus. For a few weeks, the human footprint was reduced, and the natural world flourished. Mother Nature was given her chance to…

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Resurgence: A Covid life with RA

The sun warms my skin through the window. The mountains rise on either side of the road, green and lush from the spring rains sweeping through the valley. The blue sky is dappled with wisps of high cloud as we drive down the twisting highway. Once over the peak, we dip down into the desert…

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The Twilight

The day is nearing its end. The traffic is hushed, the wind wafts softly through the leaves; the birds are singing their evening song. The heaving world is moving into stillness. I sit on my patio and exhale the remains of another day, take a moment to unwind beneath a purple sky pin-pricked with starlight,…

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If You Like What You See

Some people have inquired if there’s a place to donate on my blog. This is for those who would like to offer extra support for my work and I thank you for this.

A bigger thank you to all my readers who offer ongoing support simply by stopping by for a visit. I enjoy writing and interacting with you.

About me

J.G. Chayko is a writer, actress, and international arthritis advocate who’s been involved in theatre for more than 30 years and has published poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction.