Holiday shopping…

…is problematic. It’s the time of the year when many cultures traditionally exchange gifts. There’s a conditioned seasonal impulse to shop with a vengeance joy, often spending beyond our means in an effort to impress others with the amount we care for them. Wait! Am I projecting like the Republicans accusing the Democrats of sexual … Continue reading Holiday shopping…

Social battery. Drained

Somehow, November weekends have become very busy. This weekend, for instance, there was a Friday night event to attend, a Saturday afternoon baby shower (with an hour+ r/t drive), work Saturday night and then brunch in Woodstock Sunday morning with a couple of girlfriends. It was a multi-country extravaganza with hundreds of people surrounding me. … Continue reading Social battery. Drained

Broken in, not distressed

When I changed into my “chores” jeans, I paused for a moment to consider how many years it had been since I purchased this particular pair of Levi’s. I did the math, thinking back to that long ago trip anniversary to Maine and our visit to the outlets in Freeport. My first and last, so … Continue reading Broken in, not distressed

Saying goodbye to a generation

My Uncle Eamon’s kitchen, Broomall, PA, Fall 1989 The first time I met my Aunt Rosita was at a family wedding. This event marked the second time in my life that I shared space with a relative other than my mother and brother. I had been collected from the airport by Uncle Eamon and Uncle … Continue reading Saying goodbye to a generation

Fired Up, Part 2

(As promised, the second part of last weekend. This time, however, the Fired Up is refers to the fire tower out in Grafton and the going up it that was our plan for the early afternoon.) Just like Saturday, I spent much of Sunday outdoors, this time on the east side of the Hudson. My … Continue reading Fired Up, Part 2

Whatever gets you through the night (and day)

I think it’s pretty clear that my moods (and mental health) are being determined to a great extent by the current situation in the States. Guess we should all get accustomed to being dictated to, right? I can’t understand why the population of what was once a rebellious, independent country, is allowing this travesty of … Continue reading Whatever gets you through the night (and day)