Thoughts, experiences and adventures from a resident of DelSo aka Delaware Avenue South in Albany, N.Y.
It was a new school year, my first in the school district where I later received tenure for the second time. The book salesman was late for our introductory meeting. When he arrived he was flustered and he apologized in a distracted fashion. ”A plane flew into one of the twin towers,” he told me. … Continue reading I haven’t forgotten
Just another day in America yet, somehow, since it’s the day before my students return to their classrooms after summer break, the latest school shooting in the United States is hitting me hard. Why do we tolerate this? Why do we allow our government to do nothing? Why have we given organizations like the NRA … Continue reading Starting the school year off with a bang
I learned this week of the loss of a friend from high school. Before I go further, you should know a couple of things - first I hesitated to write “friend,” because it’s a word that suggests a connection and intimacy that I wasn’t certain I should claim there had been between Gary and myself. … Continue reading Death of a crusader
Although I read a lot of books (I’m on my 11th of this new year already), it isn’t often that I find one which speaks to whom I was as a young teen and whom I am now strive to be as a school librarian. Katie Van Heidrich’s memoir, The In-Between, told in verse, manages to … Continue reading For lost girls looking to be found
I think the happiest people I know all celebrate their birthdays more authentically as they age. that anniversary of another year around the sun becomes more significant as the number of years lived grows - and those still to come diminishes. there’s been a recent round of birthdays in my social circle and more than … Continue reading the weight of the world
The year has barely begun and already I’m exhausted by the sheer amount of bullshit in our society. Perhaps if it had just been a thing or two, I could have overlooked them and focused my attention instead upon next month’s trip to the desert, but when the outrages and irritations continue to accumulate…well, it’s … Continue reading Irate so I write
Apologies in advance for the extreme randomness that's about to follow... I'm kind of in the market for a new pair of jeans. I qualified that statement because, with 4 or 5 pairs of jeans already in my closet, I don’t need another pair, but it would be nice to have a fresh pair in … Continue reading Where do you go after Skinnies and other pressing questions
DelSo 