Slow motion asynchrony
Once in a while we are removed from our normal mental and physical routines. For me, the removal came as the result of a bi-lateral hernia operation. For those that know me, I have moved at a fast pace since I emerged from my mother's womb. I walk fast, eat fast and...
certainty is only an expression of fear
Today David Bowie died. It is a sad day—but in his passing I have been placed in a reflective mood—thinking about his life and creations. There is not much I can add to the volumes of recollections, memories and stories being posted all over the news sites and the...
When the Top Ten for 2015 was ONE
I find "top ten" list this time of year to be less than blissful. I find them relentlessly banal. Anyone who has spent the year paying any attention at all will already know what is best for the year. At this time of year, the publishers of websites, consumer sites,...
My Dad is hovering over me
Last night I had a particularly vivid dream about my late father. Dad was a car mechanic for decades, then a home builder for several years before he retired. My two brothers and I worked in our father's Texaco station in Fort Smith, Arkansas from the time we...
Staying home to go far away
For a long time, I have been a man on the run—not in the criminal sense. I have a wanderlust that, until now, has been seemingly insatiable. Over the years my travels have been both professional and personal. For about 35 years, the majority of the time spent...
Love
Today, in a year I can't disclose, my wife was born. In November of 1987, I had my first date with her. I was, how do they say: "poor as a church mouse." I was slowly emerging from two personal crisis—divorce and ridding myself of some bad habits. I also had three...
Rilke's Rose
Today, like most days, I work at trying to stay focused and in my element. Living in Mexico, and I suspect anywhere, there are many distractions keeping me from that goal. While some distractions are self-inflicted and fun (like FaceBook), most are merely daily...
"What lies around it"
In the photograph accompanying this blog post, the obvious is that this picture shows a lady laughing and selling her fruit. But deeper below this image lies a system of mutual support that is based on a whole system of propositions. This fruit vendor probably makes...
Calm + Quietude
Each day I look closely for those precious few moments when there is an intersection of calm and quietude. They are critical to my personal well-being and balance. I use them to read, garden, think about a painting, or compose for this blog. Lately, the number of...
Simon
Unless you live with animals, I am not sure you need to read the rest of this blog. Simon is our soft coated Wheaton terrier. He is named after Simon who carried Jesus's cross (we picked him up around Ash Wednesday nearly 14 years ago—my wife is Catholic). Our first...
Shoot 'Em Up 450
Recently 4 Americans, a Brit and gentlemen thwarted a disaster on a French train. The Americans were Spencer Stone (airman first class), Alek Skarlatos (specialist in the Oregon National Guard), Anthony Sadler, and Mark Moogalian (dual French-American citizen.) The...
Roughhousing
One of my fondest memories of when the girls were little was "rough housing." The origin of this term is wonderfully described in "The Word Detective" (see Roughhousing). Often when I would come home from work the girls would all want to hug me...and three at once was...