Thoughts, experiences and adventures from a resident of DelSo aka Delaware Avenue South in Albany, N.Y.
Recently, I've been on a Lumineers kick and the title of this post comes from their song, Donna. It wasn’t the first lyric in the song that caught my ear, but it was the one that prompted me to write it down. Let’s just say it resonated. I’ve written, and even publicly spoken, about finding … Continue reading Your mother never was one
I recently started following a new-to-me Instagram account, TheAIDSMemorial. It isn’t that I need reminders to reflect upon those who have been lost to AIDS, but seeing the photos and reading the stories has moved me deeply. Damn, they were so young. As our country faces yet another variant strain of Covid, I can’t help but … Continue reading What is remembered lives
Last week’s trip to Montreal with my sons was, I think, the 7th or 8th time I’ve been there. It’s been quite some time, though, since I’ve gone to Montreal without an agenda in place. The most recent occasions have been to make use of the airport, see a concert, and chaperone a middle school … Continue reading Je me souviens
It seems that Thanksgiving has changed in so many ways since I was a child and taught about Pilgrims and “Indians.” Knowing what I know now about the atrocities perpetrated by whites against Native Americans has certainly diminished the joy of the holiday for many, including myself. How does one celebrate the colonialization of the … Continue reading Giving thanks for simple pleasures
Over the years many friends have given me plants. I probably have 9 or 10 houseplants at this very moment which I received as gifts. For the most part, these plants do well, although I’ve learned that like the peplum in fashion, jade plants and I are never going to be friends. That’s ok. There … Continue reading The death of passion
I was born in Manhattan but didn’t live there until 1992, which was decades past my debut at the now defunct Manhattan Infirmary. When I finally actually moved to NYC, I arrived at the age of 25 with my first month’s rent paid, two part time jobs, a broken heart and $200 to my name. … Continue reading Bet your boots
Saturday was a damp, grey day, certainly not the kind of day which inspires a 100 mile road trip. But, the plans had been made and downstate friends and I were meeting at my brother’s new house to celebrate his recent birthday. “House” is a bit of a misnomer in this case because where my … Continue reading (Re)Creating (dis)Comfort
DelSo 