Monday, the weather has turned, the ice melts, the brown earth appears. There is hope. Life returns. Living in the Midwest, one learns to take winter seriously. Severe, single digit cold is an effective teacher. Therefore, in the Midwest we celebrate the first hint of spring. Over the weekend I completed planting preparation for…
Sunday morning, the New York Times Weekend Briefing has again arrived in my iphone mailbox. Among the usual topics is an overview of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, an anticipated reinforcement in the push to immunize the population against accelerating transmission of the corona virus. The pandemic aid bill which has gained House approval…
Let’s start out with a song. This one by the Canadian band Rush, Closer To The Heart. The tune scarcely needs any comment. Closer To The Heart By Rush And the men who hold high places Must be the ones who start To mold a new reality Closer to the heart Closer to the…
Recently I considered the books piled upon my desk. I am fortunate to be able to purchase whatever I am inclined to read. I am happy in a strange way, — happy like a soldier departing on a mission, grasping a rifle with clip of full metal-jacket rounds, and plenty of spare ammo. I…
In October of 2018 my wife and I were present at a Smokey Robinson concert at the Genesee theater in Waukegan. I have received inspiration from Smokey Robinson songs for the entirety of my adult life. Smokey Robinson is a living legend, the songs he has written, and the performances he has given have…
I have no idea what to write. What do I/you want? (Che Vuoí?) That is the question. Do I know? Does anyone know? Usually I do not think about it. When I do, I realize how unsure I actually am, how torn, how tossed about by a confusion of inner voices. I offer a…
What is there to say this morning… It is zero degree Fahrenheit at 7AM. According to the forecast the rest of the week is to feature temps around zero. This is the Midwest, not a polar zone, so very little moves outside in these conditions. Exposure is dangerous. We misunderstand global warming. Weather extremes…
Yesterday was marked by two events. I initiated and finished cleaning the shower. The necessary and unpleasant biweekly chore was alleviated by my Spotify playlist of music. I use several small fans to ameliorate the noxious fumes of the cleaning agent which removes hard water residue. There’s no need to describe in further detail…
Yesterday I received report of my granddaughter’s visit to the physician. She is a toddler, walking about, exploring, and babbling. I sense that she is on the cusp of language. She understands simple commands and responds with appropriate behavior. She runs about her play area, with obvious excitement, laughing, to point out the…
Words cannot assay the loss of a great soul, an artist who has manifestly changed the world, doing his/her part to leave behind a quotient of light. All the more so in these dark days, days when so many are unsure what matters, or if anything at all matters. Mary Wilson, founding member of…
