Thoughts, experiences and adventures from a resident of DelSo aka Delaware Avenue South in Albany, N.Y.
The news of Dolly Parton’s death arrived as I left my hair in a pile on the floor of a salon in San Francisco. It was surprising news to hear, but not completely unexpected. She was 80 and had lived a remarkable and full life. We should all be so fortunate. I would never claim … Continue reading I will always love you
On my last visit to the Bay Area, I recall seeing vehicles that were learning the streets of San Francisco in preparation for the introduction of driverless cars. Five years later, the research is complete and driverless cars are a regularly appearing and convenient car service. Last night, we took Waymo vehicles in both directions … Continue reading California – Waymo to Woah
I often complain that I hate owning a house because of the unpredictable responsibilities that come with a 115 year-old property. I imagine the freedom I’d feel without the constant worrying about the correct prioritizing of maintenance and improvements and try to decide where else I might live… But, for now (and the last 30+ … Continue reading Leaving the nest
A few weeks ago, a friend and I were out enjoying drinks and chatting when the topic of travel came up. We quickly realized we were each hoping for an opportunity to take an autumn trip. Amazingly, independently we had each been thinking about visiting Sicily, a place neither of us had ever been before. … Continue reading Amici in Italia
In 1996, I was settling into the home we had recently purchased, preparing to start a new permanent professional position and getting ready to start a family. Having all three of those major life milestones occur within a six month window of time, reflectively, seems crazy but, at the time, I was completely unfazed to … Continue reading Declaring (personal) independence
Earlier this month, I bit the proverbial bullet and ordered myself an inflatable paddle board. It was a somewhat impulsive purchase, but one which was approached with a level of forethought. First, I polled friends to learn what they liked about their own equipment and did some online research of various brands to determine what … Continue reading Maiden voyage
It stands to reason that someone I first met on an unforgettable day, (9/11/2001), should pass, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s, on a date as distinctive as 6/16/26. We met in the library. It was my first week working in a district where I would eventually spend three years as the high school librarian. … Continue reading 6/16/26
DelSo 