Growing up, and living most of my life, in eastern Pennsylvania just outside of Philadelphia, I am no stranger to the words snow day. As a kid, those words were magical and freeing. An unexpected day off. A mini holiday. I can remember listening to the radio as they called the school closing numbers, or…
Category: Life
Haul Out the Holly
I knew I consolidated (purged, donated, got rid of) some of my holiday decorations before I moved to Memphis. It wasn’t until the tree was up and I had searched through all of my unpacked possessions (three or four times) that I realized how much I had consolidated. I no longer had a star or…
Silences So Deep
There are silences so deepyou can hearthe journeys of the soul,enormous footstepsdownward in a freezing earth. John Luther Adams A couple of days ago NPR ran a short portrait of composer John Luther Adams. I knew nothing about Adams. Aside from what they reported, most of which I’ve already forgotten, I still know nothing about…
Acknowledgments
…and to my wife, Beth. She knows how much. That’s the last line in the acknowledgments at the beginning of a book of poems I was about to read. In the acknowledgments, a few well-known poets are mentioned, and Joe Salerno is called irreplaceable, but Beth… well, she knows how much. Stephen Dunn wrote, “The…
I Should Get Organized
The woman held my driver’s license firmly in her right hand and hole punched it with her left. When she handed it back I realized the word “void” had been hole punched in it. I was immediately torn between being fascinated by the cool hole punch and comically bummed about the sad commentary on my…
Not Hiking…
The morning sunlight glistens in the frost on the roof of the house next door. Two planes race across the sky, one trailing the other, both leaving short white streaks in their wake. It’s barely 9am and already the day has been full of modest desires, lots of “I shoulds,” and anticipating the mild disappointments…
Music & Technology
I like music. That’s not the boldest statement to make, but it’s a true one. I don’t know much about music or the music industry which makes it the perfect subject to opine about. If you’ve read a significant portion of this blog, or if you know me personally, or if you just have a…
Thanksgiving 2020
Like so many things in 2020, Thanksgiving this year was different. Last Thanksgiving was the first one I spent away from my family. Friends of my friend Stacy were kind enough to invite me over to a friendsgiving type of event. It was fun and warm and friendly – all the things we expect out…
Attitude of Gratitude
Venting, complaining, bitching – I fell like I do too much of this. By nature, I tend to joke around and be pretty easy going – I like to think I’m laid back…. but then I remember that whiny little bitch inside me. My sense of humor is dry and self-effacing – usually to mask…
Riddles and Rabbit Holes: Goethe, Jazz, and Billy Collins
Last night, my mind was all horns punctuated by drums, fast hi-hat, and quickening bass. I was trying to read poetry and kept hearing the song “We Six” by Paul Chambers. I had to look the song up in my library to get the title. It’s fast and crazy and starts a little cacophonous before…
With Time and Distance
Can two people, both of whom don’t like to be the center of attention, survive the influx of attention in a new relationship – especially if they have different attachment styles? The other day, I received an email from Island photography. It was one of those reminder / memories notifications that we’ve all become accustomed…