Yesterday the news came that Joan Didion died on Thursday. She was 87 years old. I did not know her personally, only through her collection of essays Slouching Toward Bethlehem. She wrote about the chaos of the 60s. Her writing electrified me, and made sense, in a primal way of the extremes that had…
Are there not many ways to think about, well everything? Certainly! Who would disagree. Several days ago, I posted a reflection about Christmas that was about change, about illusion, and about “reality.” At the time I wanted to tell a post-modern story of an event that has occurred for over two millennia. Early today when…
A high point of the holidays has been the Tuesday evening Zoom meetings of a group of friends for a discussion of ideas. I understand how unusual to recognize time spent on a Zoom virtual meeting to be agreeable, pleasurable. The past two sessions have been unusual as we’ve had nothing on the agenda,…
LUKE 2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went…
I did not post anything yesterday. That’s the first day missed in three years. I am blessed, lucky, and there’s no explanation, nothing I have done to merit good health, the ability to consistently write. How much does civilization, not to mention bare existence owe to dumb luck? What are the odds that you…
Saturday, and it is quiet in the Starbucks seating area. This serene atmosphere will change soon. Families are sure to arrive, busy with Christmas shopping here in Geneva. The space will be crowded, as customers wait for a warm beverage. Last night I joined my best friend of over 50 years for a dinner…
I did not post yesterday. Yesterday, after arriving at Starbucks I discovered my laptop computer was hardly running, no life left in the battery. Over night, a power discharge depleted the machine. I was left without my usual writing aid. I could have improvised with pen and paper. I chose to read instead, and…
Seinsgefühl, German for “feeling of being.” Our discussion last night on the topic of Existentialism, the post WWII movement revolved around this indispensable aspect of our lives, “feeling of being.” For our fathers, or grandfathers who survived the industrial scale slaughter and destruction of Europe, of the Pacific islands including Japan the issue was…
Tuesday dawned brisk, in the low 30s the sky a shade of baby blue. One more day is given, a gift to be lived, and who knows what opportunities will come for appreciation, puzzlement, a tap on the shoulder so to speak, there is more to be learned, much more. As is my habit…
It is Monday morning, just three days before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving will be a needed respite. The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict has been on the minds of many. I am no exception. I have thought about the trial and the verdict well enough. I wish this were a dream or better put, a nightmare from which…
