When I was young my father taught me the importance of looking someone in the eye while giving a firm handshake. Handshake?History tells us that the handshake derives from the ancient Greek gesture of peace, extending the right hand to show that neither person was carrying a weapon. The last time I shook someone’s hand was on March 5th when I shook …
The other morning we sat down for our morning meditation. As we do every morning, Flo turned on the Calm app on her phone. But weird things ensued. The app kept crashing.After a few tries, we gave up and took an unguided moment to ourselves. Then Flo turned on the radio. NPR.Resigned that if we can’t have Calm, why not theanxiety of the news?A retu …
The best part of my trip? When my little brother leaned over at the Fourth of July party and said, “ya wanna go get the four wheelers and go for a ride?” Just like when we were kids. I said, “yeah!” Off we went. Zipping by the small crowds, headed into 60 acres of open space. Aaron, leading of course. Dirt flying into my freshly washed hair, bugs …
It arrived on Saturday and I could not have been more excited. My, oh my, how I have changed. At another point in my life, I would never have been moved by Saturday’s delivery. I would never have even known how it worked or had interest in finding out. It just was not my thing. But people change. Things change. Interests change. Sometimes, chan …
This past weekend, my husband and I watched “Ford v. Ferrari.” (a fairly good movie that I would recommend). In one scene there is a huge crowd watching a race. At the conclusion of the race, there is a happy scene where most people in the scene hug one another. While watching that scene, I grew quite sad. It had nothing to do with the movie but, r …
Two weeks ago on this "page" this blogger shared how he enjoyed sitting outide, even during a heavy rain (when otherwise protected from the elemented). I mused since about a rain song playlist and compiled a list of songs I enjoy listening to (and have on vinyl -- if the music "aged" well.). It almost appeared last week but another topic mused me …
With a mask on it's challenging to understand someone's feelings, reactions, age, etc. Is the person smiling or scowling? Are they chewing gum or trying to breath? What if one of you has a hearing impairment? So much of our personal interactions are based on seeing the other person's mouth. Without that I find myself staring at a peron's ey …
In these weird, stressful, sometimes sureal, uncharted Covid 19 days Joanne and I find ourselves constantly saying two things to each other: Janis Joplin’s “Its all the same f...ing day, man!” and Kenny Rogers’ “What condition is your condition in?” Have a nice day and mind your condition!
We’ve all been impacted over the last few months. Some routines and habits dropped and others formed.Most changes were imposed upon us by the shutdown and we adapted. Cardboard delivery boxes appeared at our doorstep in never-imagined numbers. Zoom replaced conference rooms, and on and on. But will these changes last?I often wonder what the new nor …
When Bill and I met many, many moons ago he had a favorite chair. It was a big grey leather recliner that took up half of his then studio apartment. Rumor had it he spent a lot of time in that recliner and he and his chair became very attached. It moved with us through two apartments in NYC and then came along when we moved to suburbia. By that …
A few weeks ago Corey wrote a blog in which he praised a rainy day. He asked for song titles mentioning rainy days. In my comments I wrote, “So I guess the song ‘Rainy days and Mondays’ does not apply to you." But does it apply to you? In the past, on most Sunday nights I find myself thinking that the weekend went too quickly. Most often, I …
As the daylight on the 4th ended Shelly noticed the full moon and pointed it out. It still hung low and later it moved me to take a shot as I sat out back watching an array of fireworks, likely less than legal blocks away, sometimes closer in every direction. I do not recall ever seeing such an investment by neighborhood folk in risky activity, no …
Today we celebrate our Independence Day. Indepedence from tyranny, the right to free speech, the ability to believe in whatever religion we choose even if it's none at all. We are a pluralistic country and my wish, on this day, is that we can look out for each other, accept our differences without judgement, seek to understand what it truly means t …
I rarely, if ever repeat a blog, but I am compelled to do so because, although posted 6 weeks ago, it is even more relevant and poignant today. The blog was entitled Typhoid Mary and went as follows: "Her name was Mary Mallon and she was a rich man's cook in the early 20th century. Trouble was that she was an asymptomatic carrier of Typ …
The current issue of The New Yorker arrived at our home the other morning. As is our practice, we allow our mail to “sit” for a day or so before handling it. The cover - see the picture - just stared at us from its perch on the floor.A picture we felt compelled to share.And when we picked up the magazine, we learned that thepainting on the cover is …
