Continuing the theme of outdoor, full scale dioramas, another household in Batavia offers the theme of a Madame Butterfly gathering of spirits on Halloween. The vivid colors juxtaposed with the somber skeletal reminders of death is effective to teach that life and death are never separated. Additional background on Halloween: The festival of Samhain…
Publius Rutilius Rufus was incorruptible. And what was his reward for this? He was indicted on trumped up charges and driven into exile. Marcus Aurelius was good and decent and fair. And for this? Fate handed him a plague and floods…and then his best friend attempted a coup. And how do modern historians recognize…
Sunday morning is windy, with a light rain. I cannot complain as the trees need moisture. Soon the ground will freeze… Vegetation will begin the winter season of sleep. Life can be hard. And life can be serendipitous, — the feel of a strange looking rock you happened to find, in your pocket. Is…
Last night six or seven of us had a virtual discussion, that is, via screen image we considered the function of humor, the role of laughter in the grand scheme of life. The launchpad was the short story, The Jokester by Isaac Asimov. The conclusion of our hour and a half rumination, — a…
My daughter walked in a nearby park several days ago. At a distance on the manicured green ball park outfield she noticed a round dark shape. Upon closer examination, it appeared to be a creature belonging in the Braeburn Marsh not very far away. She hurried back to the house to summon me with…
