A full measure of the tragic, the catastrophic, the dystopian dimensions of our life together on this planet is served to us, a concatenation of streaming media, Fox, CNN, ABC, NPR, to name a few. It’s easy to understand why this is so. Life’s extremities, danger, stimulates our fight/flight reaction. Nothing is a more…
Saturday morning and Starbucks is abuzz. Yesterday afternoon we attended an open house to celebrate the graduation of my wife’s brother’s son’s daughter from high school. The graduate was radiant as she greeted well wishers just inside the foyer of the great room. We were not sure who would be present at the event. …
This has been written about Mother’s Day: [A mother’s work is] a job that is ever-changing and frequently exasperating. Moms don’t get days off, nor do they receive handsome salaries or generous pensions. Instead, their rewards come in the form of sticky kisses, necklaces made of elbow macaroni, and the satisfaction of seeing their…
Nearly a week has passed since my return from the West. I revisited in my mind our hike to the site of the old silver mine, the abandoned Stockton Hills Mine. “Stockton the liveliest mining camp in Mohave county” is written in the old records of the area. The mines played out, as did…
At last I have seen Beverly Hills. Visiting was not on my bucket list of places, but I have been aware for much of my life that movie stars and other entertainers live in Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills is storied for it’s luxurious shopping, for the glitz and glamor cultivated by those who are…
The journey continues. We’ve passed though much desert, and some high country with tall lodge pole pine trees. We are now in Kingman, Arizona. This is our third stop, visiting with individuals who have a long term interest, fascination with carousels, with the artistry and history of carousel animals. My host and guide, for…
Passing through Texas. Anticipate reaching New Mexico within a few more hours of driving. The panhandle of Texas seems as flat as a plate, dry in appearance by comparison to the Midwest. Many cows are viewed from the road, standing, heads down, finding such nourishment as they can. Do they know they will soon…
Saturday is bright and brisk. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. I, a refugee from Christianity find the unreality of Easter, that is a certain opinion about the Easter story excruciating. How so you naturally will ask… The pageantry, the spectacle made of the resurrection story by Christian churches directs me to believe because a mutilated…
Stoic Philosopher-Slave We met late in the day to discuss Stoicism, that is, the sayings of Epictetus, an excerpt from his “Manual.” Nine of us were around the table, a sell-out crowd. The discussion was spirited, wide ranging. There is no respite from the issues of our time, pressing upon us. Epictetus, a slave,…
There’s a gentle rain outside. Trees show signs of emerging leaf. Everything that I can see seems to be waiting. Waiting for what? Life is a procession, one thing after another. Cause and effect… ad infinitum. The mind imposes the notion of delay, waiting as a holiday parade, the marching band has to march…
