Today is Uncle Joe’s funeral. He was a few months short of his hundredth birthday.Flo’s Uncle Joe was the superhero of the family. As Flo’s brother, Jeff, reminded his siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews, without Joe, there would be no family — or none as we know it. Here’s the story:After the War and liberation from concentration camp, Joe met V …
With Labor Day behind us and summer over (although, technically, we have a few weeks left), we struggle with the annual question of the moment:Did the summer go by quickly or slowly?
We were on vacation last week and when we returned I was confronted with the familiar aftermath of vacation.No, not getting back to work and the old routines. Rather, it was the challenge of holding on to the good karma of vacation.I thought of the familiar places we just left. They are still there. However, we’re not. With a little psychic energy, …
We were sitting on the back deck of the ferry from Orient Point to New London. As we approached New London, a man came over and extended two leashes to me.“Will you hold these for me?”As I reflexively extended my hand, I realized that there was a dog at the end of each leash.“Only if you promise to come back!” I said.The leather Louis Vuitton leash …
The booth was where it has been for years. The company sold journals and was at the trade show every year.And, as in years past, they were offering free embossed journals as a promotion.As we have in the past, we picked a journal and waited on line thinking about the clever words, or variation of a name, we would ask to be embossed on the cover.But …
Have you ever listened to the soundtrack to a movie without the movie?We had the privilege of being at Tanglewood last Saturday for John Williams’ Film Night with the Boston Pops.As I listened to the music, my daughter’s words of so many years ago resonated. She was about five years old when she said “You know Dad, Music goes right to your heart.”S …
Since when did “No Problem” become a synonym for “You’re Welcome” ?Increasingly we’re hearing “No Problem” in response to “Thank You”. Often in restaurants from younger wait staffers.I’m not a language expert, and, perhaps, I'm old-fashioned, but I think there’s a difference in meaning between“No Problem” and “You’re Welcome”.....
I hadn’t been on a subway in over three years.Last Sunday, we were on a walking tour in Manhattan and had to take a short subway ride at the end of the tour. Forewarned and equipped with our MetroCards, we ventured forth with the others on the tour.The MetroCard worked.Shortly after I went through the turnstile, another rider straddled over without …
Last Sunday, we were at an upscale art fair in Southampton. Very upscale.Big tents set on an open field. Hundreds of galleries.All of a sudden, we heard what sounded like a train roaring by. There had been the forecast of possible thunderstorms and we quickly realized that the forecasts were, in fact, materializing. But we never expected what was t …
Years ago, Fred and I would routinely meet at lunchtime for a run in Central Park. With its circular road and crossroads, the park offers the potential for runs of many varied distances. We would plan to run a long run one or two days a week and shorter runs on alternate days.On those long runs, we would approach the cutoff that would take us on a …
Last Monday evening. We were at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts for the traditional July 4th James Taylor concert (actually July 3rd and 4th).I’m not sure how many James Taylor concerts at Tanglewood we’ve been to over the years, but this was not the first. Many years ago the rumors began that that concert would be his last. And I promised that …
I was at the movies with my grandson. It was one of those upscale theaters with reclining seats and food brought to you.And a bowl of popcorn appeared and was placed on the little table in front of me.As I reached for the popcorn, the voice resonated in my ear: “I bet you can’t eat just one!”A challenge of self control. And I lost.Thinking about it …
The quotation, attributed to Winston Churchill, was tacked on the wall behind the desk.“However Beautiful the Strategy, you should Occasionally look at the Results.”As I gazed upon those words, other familiar words came to me and I considered… do the “Ends justify the Means”?
The simple question was posed to a world reknown glass artist after his inspiring talk about his life’s work.“What is your best work?”He answered, “My next one.”That equally simple answer reveals the key to creativity.
Flo and I were taking a walk in Great Barrington last weekend and passed a lawn that was covered in dandelions. A carpet of yellow. It was pretty.But my initial reaction was “weeds!!!”Then we talked as we walked.“Who labeled them weeds?”“Do they know they’re weeds?”“Is that bad?” and“Do they care?”It doesn’t change the beautiful yellow.But they’re …
