Doing philosophy is a revolutionary activity. In these times of discord, suspicion, verbal assault, and sometimes overt expression of hatred–anyone who disciplines him or herself to mindfully exercise reason, speaking and writing with clarity is a subversive. Nothing is more antithetical to the mayhem, the pandemonium of “warfare,” than thoughtful communication. A family member…
Family is not limited to those related by blood. I understand that more deeply as the years pass. The circle may be wide to include friends whose stories intersect our own. Each child that is born and welcomed into the family circle is a reminder of the generosity of heart and congeniality of spirit…
While living in the suburbs I seldom go into Chicago. Every place in northern Illinois is within the orbit of the city, one of the most populous in the country with 9.5 million people. The scale of the city causes discomfort. I have a sensation of 360 degrees of thinly veiled chaos when I…
We attended a Memorial Day ceremony in Beach Park. I did my best to enjoy it. It always seems tragically sad to remember those who died prematurely in unnecessary wars. I consider the Vietnam War and all of those since, including those underway,–unnecessary. To disregard the evidence of your own senses, and to believe…
Saturday was dedicated to putting in the garden. The patch of ground was broken a few times with the assist of a power tiller. I was grateful for the powered help. A neighbor who owns a horse farm was kind to allow me to obtain a sufficient quantity of barn manure for fertilizer. The…
Awakened this morning from a nightmare. The dream had to do with life as we know it today, of encounter with the myriad bureaucratic obstructions imposed upon the individual by “the system.” There is no escape. Costs pile up. Red light cameras, late penalties of all kinds, and if you live in Cook County,…
A few days ago my daughter asked me to write about the connection between the white headed robin and the muscle cars which were featured in the post on BEAUTY I am satisfied that there are many ties of relationship between the rare bird and the hand built single purpose hot rods. It is…
Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? One is tempted to answer “yes” or answer “no.” Then to follow up with a discussion on the latest findings on brain research. Alternatively there is the description of objectively measurable parameters of proportion, of design technique. To take either side is an interesting game. I’ve…
I am diabetic. Finding no sugar added ice cream makes me happy. The taste is perfect, with no sugar added. I think these words by Herman Hesse make the point. In every truth the opposite is equally true. For example, a truth can only be expressed and enveloped in words if it is one-sided….
This morning the rains came. My jacket was moistened by big drops as I hurried across the parking lot. A slash of white lightening fell in the distance, so far away that I did not hear the thunder. The arrival of the spring rain is a reminder, that time is passage, and that we…
