I may have to stop second-guessing my GPS. I recently was instructed by my GPS to take what seemed to me to be a roundabout way to get on a nearby highway. Ignoring the GPS suggestion, I took my more-direct route and was shocked into humble reality when I saw that my “more-direct” route was snarled in stop and go traffic. As I wound my way thro …
The Gay Head Lighthouse in Aquinnah on the westernmost tip of Martha’s Vineyard is being moved inland. The historic lighthouse, which has stood on its present spot since 1856, is in danger of falling into the sea as the cliffs to its north and west are eroding. By the experts' estimate, the move will keep the Lighthouse safe from the eroding cl …
Lyrics have been abounding in recent blogs. No lyrics (except for two lines later) but I will share my special regards for one of the music icons of my generation. We saw James Taylor at Jones Beach last night. We also saw him in the Berkshires less than two weeks ago at his annual July 4th concert at Tanglewood. We have seen him many times over …
I had never experienced this before and hope to never experience it again. We were driving upstate before the holiday weekend and were caught in a hailstorm. Suddenly, dark clouds, a sudden ever-increasing rain and then - pings. Small at first, then larger - bangs, thuds. Nowhere to pull off the highway. No underpass. Finally a small clearing on th …
I may be a News Junkie and, if so, I'd like to consider going on a twelve-step program. I was raised listening to WCBS radio – "all news all the time" – while in the car. I now listen to NPR on both commutes to and from the office – generally when the news is on. My home feels like the periodicals room at the New York Public Library. I get news …
The consummate chronicler of our running escapades of so many years ago recently informed me that on June 21,1980, I ran the Westchester Half Marathon in just under one hour and thirty-one minutes (does 1:30:52 sound better?). By the most-accurate account, I finished with our friend Warren with whom the report was shared. In the email exchange …
Earlier this week, Fred shared an entry in his diary with me. It's from June 17, 1980 and reads as follows: “drove Benj to his parents' home in New Hyde Park and his dad is a pleasant eccentric little immigrant man with an accent who said I didn't look "Klein" (small) and offered me a half finished beer. His face showed concern when Benj told hi …
It seems that there is always a current “what we thought was good for you, isn't”. Something that was considered healthy and even recommended, suddenly falls out of favor. Low dose aspirin. Take one a day. Now, not so good for you. Don't take low dose aspirin. Talk to your doctor. Coffee. Doesn't count toward your necessary daily f …
There’s a detached garage at Flo’s mother’s house in Queens -- the house that Flo grew up in, my father-in-law lived in until his death five years ago, and her mother still lives in. The garage is used for storage and in all of the years that I took things in and out of that garage, the garage door was never locked -- until two weeks ago when I …
Red light cameras are showing up everywhere. The cameras that are at intersections which are coordinated with the traffic lights to photograph the license plates that go through red lights or commit other violations (like rolling through a right turn on red). Recent reports are that, after a few years since being introduced, revenues from the r …
We are privileged to have Jefferson Crowther, his wife Allison, and their family, in our Gotham family. Although there were 34 (mostly-unrelated) people around the table at yesterday’s meeting of Formica and Open House, for me it was a family meal in which one of the family members shared something special -- something very special. As Jefferso …
I won’t drink and drive, so why would I risk reaching for a smart phone to check for emails or text messages? The point was driven home last Thursday at the Gotham Long Island meeting by Mike Jakob. Mike, an insurance agent, talked about the problem and a new program that his agency is undertaking to educate the public about the hazards of smartpho …
Brooklyn Technical High School is one of the specialized high schools in New York City. It is in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. Last weekend I went on a casual walk in Fort Greene and walked past my high school. When I went to Brooklyn Tech, you simply didn’t take a causal walk in the neighborhood. Most, if not all, of the students “commut …
When I finish a novel, I feel that I've said goodbye to a friend. There's a feeling of loneliness and a time to reflect upon the times we shared. I soon turn to finding a new book to put on the coveted spot on my night table that is reserved for my current read. There is always an abundance of books to choose from. (It seems that, with the bes …
Dan shaded his eyes as they adjusted to the sunlight and he tried to fathom what he saw. There, on the far side of the courtyard was Duardo kicking a soccer ball as only a three-year old could to an unshaven man. But this was no playground. Dan looked up at the high walls surrounding the courtyard. The razor wire that capped the walls and the t …
