A man’s spirit requires attention, maintenance, and repair, and so much of what we now do—gazing at the glow, watching and listening to other people performing and pretending, the doom‑scrolling, the constant connection to the hive mind—interferes with that maintenance. We are a nation of addicts, and our drug is constant distraction, even those of … More In Better Company
If I’m not up by 7 in the morning, the bed shakes and a paw rakes my arm. The clock in Peaches’ stomach has gone off, and she is keen to alert me to that fact. If I wake earlier and stretch, or make any sound at all, she’s on me with the paw, and … More The Memory Garden
I called my brother the other day while he and his wife were sharing a morning cup. The weather outside was frigid, but they were basking in the warm embrace of home and companionship, quietly chatting about this and that. A slice of toast, a comfortable chair, and nothing demanding they get up and get … More The Little Things
September is a beautiful month, but there is something dolorous in the fading of flowers and the shortening of days that reminds us that summer does not last forever. There is another empty chair at our table now. We lost Tracey’s brother in September, my friend, Michael Betz, who passed away peacefully at home, leaving … More A Completion
The more complex things become, the more vulnerable to disruption they are. So say systems theory, economics, and philosophy. The effect is observable in ecosystems, supply chains, and financial systems. It’s in the touchscreen controls of the washing machine that stopped working. It’s in the package that’s always running late for delivery. It’s in the … More Your Link Has Expired
Every year about this time, leaves gather and get relocated; then they regroup and conspire to come back with others, only to be relocated again. The roofs of our house and barn are inspected and repaired as needed. Garden hoses are coiled and stored away. Tomato plants are pulled up and replaced by broccoli, lettuce, … More It’s About Time
This week we pause to consider the passing of a man I did not know. We never actually met, except to exchange a wave in passing. Neighbors are few and far between in our valley and most of us have a nodding acquaintance even if we rarely speak. I do not know the family, or … More A Tender Place For A Gentle Soul
“What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” … More My iFriend And Me
Outside The Box 