We were in Aruba last week where mask mandates have been relaxed — leaving decisions to each establishment and individuals. I noticed two signs on entrances: “Masks Requested” and “Masks Required”. “Requested” and “Required” - Two similar words differentiated by a few letters but with such different meaning - literally and philosop …
As I take a break from packing for our upcoming return to the Happy Island of Aruba, I thought it appropriate to repost my blog from March 5, 2020 -- 722 days ago. Last Sunday, we took a flight back to New York from the happy island of Aruba (that’s the subject of another blog). I had given some thought to the usual concerns associated …
Every once in a while, I come across a contact on my phone and pause. I stare and consider why the contact is still in my Contacts. Sometimes I don’t even remember the contact and have no idea how the contact got there in the first place. After a moment of thought, and with some question, I’ll often delete the contact.“People come into our lives fo …
My fountain pen leaked. I was in the office and the few tissues in my desk drawer were worthless against the black ink that stained my fingers.Attempts at the bathroom sink were futile. It would have to wait until I got home.I washed at home later in the day, using the Boraxo, nail brush and pumice stone that were there for special occasions.As I w …
Our soon-to-be six years old grandson recently shared one of his greatest confidences.“The bane of my existence is that I don’t know what the bane of my existence is.”I wonder whether he was simply expressing that he didn’t know what “bane of existence” means or whether he was actually reflecting upon the concern foremost on his mind at the moment. …
The drop-down was to the effect that firms have given up on predicting when employees would return to their offices. I didn’t read the full article. As often happens, the drop-down is sufficient to lead to questions.Are you back in the office? If not, are you going back in the near future?
We were staying at a new hotel in Woodstock New York. An escape weekend in the Catskills. The room was modern, overlooking a brook fed by a waterfall framed nicely in the room’s window. The television was a challenge. All the streaming channels were available - provided you had an account and remembered your password. For the life of me, I couldn’t …
My grandson, who is a few months shy of his sixth birthday, recently started playing Monopoly. It was no surprise that he challenged me and his father to a game when we visited them last weekend.And when our brother and sister-in-law visited, we took out Connect Four and played several games.I don’t generally play board, or computer, games, and was …
This past Tuesday was the Winter Solstice - the “shortest day of the year”. It was also the first day of winter. Winter conjures up visions of cold and snow. For me, beginning yesterday, the days will be getting longer and we’ll enjoy a little more sunlight every day. I’ll focus on the sunshine and look forward to Spring Equinox. Happy Holidays.
Days (of the week) and dates (of the month) - oftentimes a single day can be labeled with two identities. Do you focus on the day or the date?A few weeks ago, we received an invitation from our friends for an event on “Friday, 11/11”. Without realizing the error that the day and date didn’t match, we entered the event for 11/11 on our calendar.We w …
This past Monday - the first day in the office after leaving daylight savings time - I couldn’t figure out how the morning had passed so quickly until I realized that I hadn’t turned back the clock on my desk. I looked up from my work and saw that it was approaching noon, paused and finally realized that it was only eleven. I reset the clock with a …
We recently heard of a disruption during dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. The incident, in which a diner complained to the annoyance of many people around him, was over a condiment that was simply mot available that evening. The restaurant had run out and the delivery wouldn’t be until the next day.I wonder why some people complain that s …
With temperatures falling, I wonder whether it’s time to go inside.Like many people, over the past year and a half we have been reluctant to eat inside restaurants and have been dining out outside.Exercise has been a challenge and we have not been inside a gym. Walking has been the major exercise escape and we’ve enjoyed the outside tent and equipm …
One definition of root is to noisily applaud or encourage a contestant or team.Here we are in baseball’s post-season. The local teams - who are the usual objects of our attention and support - are all packed up.I find myself watching the play-off games, primarily because it’s just good baseball. And I find myself far from neutral as I watch. But I’ …
I reached for a hat in the closet and was showered by more than two dozen baseball-style hats, a few caps of various styles, and an assortment of other rimmed headwear.I knew that several head coverings had accumulated over the years, but the extent of the collection was alarming and a reminder that the time has come to clean and clear.But as I wen …
