Yesterday we celebrated Halloween by accompanying costumed children on a parade through a suburban neighborhood. The homeowners appeared as happy to dispense treats to passing children, as were the children receiving the sweets. Halloween is a day of celebration, a mirthful exercise of imagination, a costumed reminder of our belonging to a wider community,…
A Thursday morning, still dark outside and I feel exhausted. This morning I’ve nothing in mind to say. I am tired, very tired. The pandemic is gaining momentum, yet a second wave of infections, certain to grow worse with the coming cold months. This was foreseen as the certain result of official rejection of…
THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON NOTICE DATE: October 2, 2020 JERRY W & LAURA L KING NOTICE NUMBER: 1444 1426 HAINES CT BATAVIA, IL 60510-9206 Your Economic Impact Payment Has Arrived My Fellow American: Our great country is experiencing an unprecedented public health and economic challenge as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic….
Walking a few blocks from the house after nightfall, we came upon the ‘pirate ship’ that we’d heard of. This one was in celebration of Halloween. Nevertheless the creators had a point of irony. The ship was christened USS Covid. Every ship has a captain, and a crew. I captured some photos of the…
It was a sunny afternoon. We declared a field trip for ourselves and the two grand kids. Off we went to visit several homes that featured impressive Halloween displays. On the visit to a West Chicago neighborhood, the monster featured was a giant dragon. Skeletons and rats were placed at the foot of…
Yesterday I enjoyed the rare privilege of lunch with a good friend at a restaurant which we both find delightful. We met at Taste of Paris in Mundelein. In the middle of the week, we had the dining room to ourselves. Under these conditions of increasing covid-19 contagion it felt safer to dine alone. …
Our philosophy discussion last night was conducted via zoom. Admittedly not as satisfying, but a conference call among six to eight people, their presence indicated by a postage-stamp scale image is better than nothing. Evening comes earlier now, with the chill, precluding our custom of sitting in a big circle of chairs on the…
Another mild fall day. The pleasant weather betrays the darkness that roils our society. Conditions present a surface quiescence, especially in towns such as mine, majority white, affluent, well ordered by the system. My neighbors appear to be comfortable enough in their homes, most of us are able to work from home, and our…
Sunday morning, and a chill breeze removes some leaves from our maple tree. Red and orange colors begin to illuminate the tree. Little seems changed in the last twenty four hours according to the NYT Weekend Briefing received this morning. The president continues to be hospitalized with covid-19. Reports of his condition are uncertain. …
My Ancestors – immigrated from Britain to escape religious persecution, intending to found a city set-on-a-hill, or paradise, which is another way of putting it. In the haste to flee persecution, we overlooked our streak of self-righteousness which we inadvertently transported to the “new” world. Early in our settlement in Massachusetts we had a…
