Sixty years ago, my bedroom window looked out on the back wall of The LaGrange Theatre. As a kid, I had a great view of everything happening in a suburban Chicago alleyway. On the other side of the red brick wall, movies were being shown featuring the stars of the day: …
A few weeks ago, a friend lashed out at me. He caught me in a good mood. I didn’t lash back. I wasn’t overly defensive. I didn’t say, ”Who made you my personal relationship adviser?” I nodded and thanked him for his frank honesty and left scratching my head. Later that …
It drives me nuts. I’m behind a car approaching a traffic signal. The light is as green as it can be. About 50 yards before reaching the intersection, the car begins to slow down, way down. I’m trying to put myself in the mindset of the driver. This person has nothing better …
It takes something like COVID-19 to recognize how fragile we are – as a nation and as individuals. I thought my generation was rolling along just fine. The Great Depression had long passed, and our parents returned victorious from the second World War when we were just kids. …
Last week, I placed a big, black bag of smelly garbage from home in the back of Blue, my faithful Suburban. I planned to drop it off at the big waste bin at our warehouse, safely away from people’s noses. I got sidetracked and spent the whole day at my office. When I finally …
It’s not rare for high winds, rain and snow to whip over the Sierra mountaintops and descend on Washoe Valley. When this happens, Sherry and I attempt to “batten down the hatches” around our property. Lawn chairs are put up against the house, away from windows. Garbage cans …
I can’t get rid of my old, faithful 2009 Chevy Suburban. I bought it used over a decade ago. Early on, I lost it in a big parking lot, so I got a cheap new paint job. I chose the most unique shade of blue imaginable so it would stick out from other vehicles in …
I admit it’s a crappy poem. I wrote it many years ago, during a period of alcohol, drugs and despair. I hesitate to share it with you today, but I recognize so many of my friends are suffering from loneliness. I was reading the book “Together,” written by Vivek Murthy, the …
My mom worked for Roy M. Quick, a bigwig banker in the Chicago area in the 1960s. She thought he was brilliant. I thought he was an arrogant windbag. Much later, Sherry and I named one of our cats Roy M. Quick (by far a better name for a kitty than a pompous banker). Anyway, …
I lost my temper in a big way. I’m ashamed of myself. I thought I had controlled this negative piece of myself, but there it was on full display. What good does meditation and mindfulness get me if I can’t put it into action during those heated moments? I’m too old for this. …
