Published in Living the (Low-Stakes) Life- Montaigne and Me and You.·PinnedSo we begin“Thus reader, I am myself the matter of my book; you would be unreasonable to spend your time on so frivolous and vain a subject. So farewell.” Michel de Montaigne wrote this at the opening of his monumental book, Essais (Attempts.) I wonder how seriously he meant that. …2 min read
Published in Living the (Low-Stakes) Life- Montaigne and Me and You.·12 hours agoMember-onlyThe Devil You Say! 7Now where was/am I? — Religion has not been on my radar for years. I lived my life, the people I know lived theirs and it just didn’t come up. As my son used to say about his erstwhile beard, which would have given ZZ Top fits of envy, it was a screener. …2 min read
Published in The Haven·Sep 21Member-onlyRejected Earth, Wind & Fire LyricsDo you remember? — Parody1 min readFrom Wikimedia CommonsRejected Earth, Wind & Fire LyricsDo you remember?----
Published in The Haven·Sep 15Member-onlyOde to RetirementWith apologies to The 5th Dimension, James Rado, Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni — My hubby’s lived seven decades His work obligations are now past Gosh, what the heck will he do Now retirement’s here at last? This is the dawning of the Age of Sit on Your A$$! Age of Sit On Your A$$! Sit On Your A$$! Sit On Your A$$! Gin…Humor1 min read
Sep 15Member-onlyThe Devil You Say! 6Mysteries of the Human Spirit — I now live in Pittsburgh’s north side, pretty much in the thick of city life. The neighborhood I live in is a classic example of gentrification, and I am part of the gentry. As much as it pains me to admit that, I’m not willing to change where I live…3 min read
Published in Genius in a Bottle·Sep 15Member-onlyNapalm ShoesClothes make the man — I have known my husband since we were teenagers in the late ’60s ( the 1960s for you whippersnappers). So I’ve had a ringside seat to the life of one particular man from early manhood to what is euphemistically called the ‘golden years.’ I could tell this tale by footwear…2 min read
Published in Living the (Low-Stakes) Life- Montaigne and Me and You.·Sep 11Member-onlyOblivion #11Privilege — Two incidents from the 1970s 1970: I am in my first year at MSU campus in East Lansing, Michigan; it is the first time I have ever lived away from home. My friends are mostly midwestern girls from suburban areas of Michigan, white and middle class. There is Carla, from…4 min read
Published in Living the (Low-Stakes) Life- Montaigne and Me and You.·Sep 8Member-onlyThe Devil You Say! 5Preachers — In 1999 we moved to State College, PA, where David took a position as Dean of the College of Education and I started teaching undergrads. Our daughter Liz came with us to attend Penn State, and for a time our son Andrew worked at the Nittany Lion Inn, first as…3 min read
Sep 7Member-onlyObservation#9 Smileand the whole world smiles with you — I smile at everyone, at least I try to. I greet passersby, whether I know them or not, I wave at bus drivers, I look people in the eye. And people respond in kind. I have been treated kindly by fortune, and have no reason to be glum. I am…Friendship3 min read
Aug 25Member-onlyOblivion #10Ring of Truth — It is well documented that I when I pay attention to something, I focus. Small example: Our deck needed to be coated with water sealer. I completed the task in a couple of hours of non-stop effort. Done, and done well, as the subsequent beading of rain water attested. As…2 min read
