The first Tuesday in the first month of winter is demonstrably cold. Patrons arrive at Starbucks with heavy coats, collars turned up. The wind races from the north, some gusts at 30 mph under a gray lowering sky. The temperature is in the low thirties. This feels much colder since — until now, I’ve…
Happened to hear this song on the radio. Like a moth to a flame, the lyric and tune are mesmerizing. I am not the only one so affected. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in 1966, the song became iconic of deeply rooted resistance to the Vietnam War. Fifty one years later we…
What? Surely the title is an anachronism, an absurd term in today’s world. Why, yes it is quite absurd and that is the point. Time’s arrow moves in one direction only. According to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, energy seeks equilibrium. It dissipates, no exceptions. Unless there is a twist of fate. What I…
Full sunlight this morning. A dramatic contrast to the top story on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. Major retailers such as Walmart and Kroger are to start charging suppliers penalty fees on account of late deliveries. With supply chains being extended so far, not just nationwide but as far as assembly…
Sunday was the occasion of a mild 40 degree day. I especially enjoyed the shades of brown and tan illumined by the afternoon sun as we passed a wetland, undeveloped, tall grasses waving in the breeze. White oaks were showing spiky leaves hanging on to face the coming frost. Everything is as it should…
The feast day began with paying homage to Nature. This is it should be, since each of us is a child of Nature, flesh and blood, born of the Earth, sustained by the sun, rain, the recurring force of Gaia’s productive effort. Is it not proper on this day to personify Nature’s dispassionate, life-giving…
I anticipated this day for a while. Fall days come one by one, daylight lessening, leaves falling, my spirit waiting for the coming interlude–a day dedicated to taking stock of the goodness that life serendipitously has offered. Thanksgiving! The benefits that come our way are unaccountable. I did not expect them. Indeed no one…
Our daughter and her partner are expecting a baby girl. Kai is to be born in January. I am awed that the child is to bear my mothers name as her middle name. My mother was a extraordinarily courageous and kind woman. She would have been greatly honored to have her name given to…
Did not post yesterday since most of the day was spent on I-65 traveling from Chicago to Louisville. We departed in a gentle rain which surely will bring down the few remaining leaves from the trees in the neighborhood. The plus side of the 6 hour drive was the brisk movement of traffic around…
I agreed to accompany my wife to the American Legion Post in Gurnee for the Veterans Day ceremony. She is a member of a local choral group that was to participate in the community event. As she is recovering from a knee injury I did the driving. It’s never been easy for me to…
