In the face of Nature’s overwhelming power to transform and destroy, if we are not humbled by the frailty and impermanence of all that we build and plan—our organizations, economies, heritage and traditions, our dreams and aspirations, indeed our very lives and all that we hold dear—then we are blinded by the same pride that … More Fair Winds and Following Seas
Last week I wrote that the storm could have been much worse for Georgia. I regret saying that. While it’s true statistically, this is the last thing someone wants to hear who is sleeping on a cot in a temporary shelter or waiting for their electricity to be restored. It’s no relief whatsoever for anyone … More What Are Your Priorities?
It’s 6 AM on a Friday morning and I’m sitting comfortably with a cup of coffee, counting my blessings. We’ve had a foot of rain here so far, and all that water is going where it’s supposed to go and not into our basement. At the moment, there are at least 2 million people without … More Deeper In The Dip
“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked. “Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.” This exchange is from Hemingway’s book, “The Sun Also Rises,” and it anticipates the more recent use of “slowly, then all at once,” which is a concise description of the way we often experience change. Things that seem to happen … More Shelter From The Storm
When both sets of my grandparents were still hale and hearty, there were many summers when our family helped maintain three separate gardens. Some of my most cherished memories include late nights past bedtime breaking beans on the screened porch and listening to the old stories, my grandmother’s “working man’s” lunch of salt pork and … More A Peach of a Problem
There was a story my father liked to tell about changing times. I’ve shared it here before but it bears repeating in the context of this discussion. There was once a spring beside a mountain road traveled on foot and by horseback. It was long ago frequented by travelers who would stop to water their … More The Heart of the Matter
“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.” -The Merchant of Venice It has been a while since we told a chicken story here, and I was beginning to worry that my editor might think our little flock had run afoul of some calamity. Mr. Tibbs … More The Quality of Mercy
“You look like a ghost,” remarked one of the kids in our hiking group. It was late August and we were on the Appalachian Trail between Deep Gap and Standing Indian. Except for the base layer, all of the clothing in my pack was white or khaki. It was yellow jacket season again. Most of … More It’s OK To Wear White After Labor Day
A “peeve” is of course a minor annoyance that someone finds particularly irritating. The word originates from the 14th century “peyvesshe,” which meant “perverse or capricious.” “Pet peeve” was popularized by cartoonist, Frank King, in the early 20th century. I’m not particularly peeved this morning, but one glance at the headlines suggests an immediate retreat, … More Pettable Peeves
A reliable indicator of the perfect morning temperature is when butter left on the sill of an open kitchen window is firm enough to hold its shape but soft enough to spread on a biscuit with approximately the same amount of force it takes to drag a razor across two-day stubble. Not to get too … More Mid August Morning
Outside The Box 