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Devin Odell

Devin worked as a lawyer in a wide variety of areas, including representing Native American tribes, corporations, non-profits, government agencies, and families in California, Alaska, Arizona, and Colorado. He then served as a state district court judge in Fort Collins for nine years, handling all types of cases. 

In retirement, he keeps busy with writing, sailing, skiing, running, biking, piano, and volunteering. He lives with his wife and son in an old house in Fort Collins. Devin also serves on the Off the Hook Arts Board of Directors. 

Devin’s short story “Sun Flower Slow Drag”, written during quarantine, was the inspiration for the Arts’ Alcove. 

Support Devin & otha

Devin has generously decided to donate 100% of contributions to Off the Hook Arts.

OtHA’s Alcove Podcast

Listen to the full episode above, or check out all our Arts’ Alcove Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  

“Sun Flower Slow Drag”

A coming of age story.
Written during quarantine to process the sadness I felt about what high school students are missing without in-person school.
            Monday morning, early spring, 1974. I’m 15, almost 16, zits, peach fuzz, all legs and elbows, toggling between sullen and hyper, with one desire above all others: a girlfriend.
            And I have a plan.
            It’s the first class of the day, orchestra, and I’m there early, at the piano. I’m playing, softly at first and then a little louder, as half-awake students straggle into the music room — tiered floor rising to the back, jumble of instrument cases along the wall, the funky smell of brass instruments — trying to beat the bell. Every few seconds, I glance up to check if anybody’s noticing me.
            Which they’re not.
            I play louder, my fingers manic on the keys.
            “You’re playing that way too fast.” This girl, Daniela, is looking over my shoulder at the music. It’s The Entertainer, by Scott Joplin, popular right then as the theme from The Sting. I’ve already seen the movie three times, studying Robert Redford and Paul Newman, two smart, sexy grifters running the big con, and pondering how I might steal some of that glamour.
            The plan I come up with is this: (1) buy a book of Joplin’s piano music; (2) practice The Entertainer every day until its perfect, no matter how much it kills my wrists; (3) sit down at the piano as people come into orchestra, like I’m just goofing around, and casually toss it off; and (4) thereby amaze everybody with how cool I am, including especially Julie Revkin. She plays cello and has this curly hazel-blonde hair and once said she liked the way I play.
 
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