A friend wrote about the creativity, comity, the shear effort to offer assistance in this time of necessary quarantine. Yes, there are innumerable acts of sacrifice, a dedication of time, perhaps of groceries to a person who was in need of the help. Such expressions of our shared humanity, the vulnerability and community orientation…
This morning I drove to Geneva. Before the onset of the coronavirus, I used to travel the 10 minute drive to the Starbucks at the corner of 3rd and State Street. As a matter of habit I looked forward to beginning my day with an hour of writing. I learned the names of several…
The news is not good. I read the Weekend Briefing from the New York Times this morning. While reading, a chill came over me. The realization came, that I am an observer of these events — and a participant. We Americans do not like being told what to do. Authority, even legitimate authority provokes…
Sunday, Sunday, so good to me… Ok, I know those are not the lyrics of the song by the Mamas and the Papas. It is supposed to be Monday, Monday, etc. I exercised license to substitute Sunday for the purposes of my reflection, my need to look back in order to compose a narrative…
Saturday breaks sunny, cool and not unusual for March. The number of deaths due to covid-19 begin to increase dramatically. The Mayor of New York made a public appeal for medical supplies, stating that the hospitals would run out of needed supplies in early April. As usual the promises of test-kits, just ordered, to…
The return drive to Illinois was uneventful, as has been the case in normal times. These are not normal times. The covid-19 virus is spreading. The symptoms have not yet become apparent as the virus spreads exponentially, and quietly begins to live within our bodies, before we become really, really sick. Many of us…
The 1968 song was written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham for Alex Chilton of the Boxtops. The “Cry like a baby” tagline came to Oldham in the early morning hours at Porky’s Diner across the street from the studio. Penn and Oldham returned to the studio and finished the song in a few…
Unchained Melody Oh, my love My darling I’ve hungered for your touch A long, lonely time And time goes by so slowly And time can do so much Are you still mine? I need your love I need your love God speed your love to me Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the…
Consequent to a phone conversation with a friend yesterday, I was asked to write about the covid-19 epidemic that is much in the media. His suggestion seemed like a good idea to me. Who is not aware of the recently discovered virus, belonging to the corona family that has made many sick in Hubei…
It is easy for the mind to indulge. The opposite is also easy, to renounce. To move to the extreme is easy for the mind. To remain in the middle, exactly in the middle, is the most difficult thing for the mind because it is suicide for the mind. The mind dies in the…
