My daughter has started to volunteer, fundraise, and advocate on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s a cause she cares about and one that has touched her personally. I’m proud of her for doing this. I’m proud of her for taking those first awkward steps into public speaking. I’m proud of her for sticking with…
Shoveling and Work
I live off a gravel road in Central Pennsylvania. I’m near major roads – I’m not in the boonies, but my road is not paved. There are only two houses on this road – which stretches a few hundred feet – maybe 300. We’re each set back 50 – 100 feet from the gravel road….
Skirting the Surface
Yesterday was tough. For a good part of the day, I had this empty, sinking feeling. It felt worse than the usual Sunday/Monday work anxiety… which shouldn’t have been much of an issue because I have the day off today (though I have a few work things I need to do). The day started off…
You Don’t Know Me
One of the morning’s headlines read, “COVID-19 is linked to more diabetes diagnoses among kids, CDC study finds.” My first thought was, I’m so glad I’m not raising kids during this pandemic. It was a selfish thought, but I can’t imagine the stressors… Parents have to worry so much more about the health of their…
Not Quite Stir-Crazy
I had a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss our organization’s retirement plan. Reviewing retirement plans, healthcare plans, and tracking a few dozen different vendors (cleaning service, entryway carpets, copier maintenance, auditors, insurance, etc. etc. etc) are the less than glamorous aspects of running an organization. On Wednesday, I attended a summit of network CEOs…
Old Age and Blankets
I was scrolling through Twitter the other night (yes, I’ve gone back on to social media – though in smaller doses) when I came across this tweet about old people and blankets on their laps. Sitting in my favorite spot on the sofa, I looked down at the soft, but not very attractive paisley-print fleece…
A Tale of Two Sundays
Sundays are the worst. Maybe not all Sundays, but enough of them. And maybe not all of Sunday, but parts of it. I know, I know – for someone who is trying to be more mindful and practice things like gratitude, I’m doing a pretty shitty job of it with statements like Sundays are the…
Slouching Towards Enlightenment
I am not a Buddhist. Unless, of course, you accept the notion that suggests we are all Buddhas. I don’t practice meditation – at least not in the traditional sense. I don’t put in the hard work of Zen stillness. I’ve never gone to a retreat. I don’t even do yoga. All of that said,…
The All-New, 2022…
This past Monday I had car trouble. My old-ish car with 180k miles on it nearly stalled in the middle of an intersection. By the afternoon the problem had been fixed (for free because it was related to a recent repair) but in the process of checking things out, another problem was discovered. The shop…
January 6: One Year Later
One year ago, on this day, I paused from my work, put on the television and began watching the news. I was curious to see how the certification of the election would go. Earlier that morning I had seen some news pieces about protesters gathering in Washington. There were pictures of them giving the middle…
The Car, Again: So It Goes
I walked across the strip of grass on the side of the repair shop cursing that I can’t seem to catch a fucking break. Really, this is how 2022 starts? Not more than three or four miles into my morning commute, the car nearly stalled out in the middle of an intersection approaching the highway….
Tiny Victories
Despite the constant laments about not having time for this or that, writing or exercise, or quiet observation, I sometimes have to acknowledge those moments of success when time and I seem to get along. I was up early this morning. I awoke breathing short and fast from a dream in which I drove a…