The other night, I stayed up later than usual to watch the multiple Oscar-nominated film, “Terms of Endearment.” It’s a film based on Larry McMurtry’s book, with one significant difference: The film adds a major character — the middle-aged, former astronaut Garrett Breedlove (played to perfection by Jack Nicholson, who won the Oscar for Best […]
Family Business
I hadn’t seen Paul and Joanne since their grandson’s birthday party in July, so I was looking forward to having lunch together this past Wednesday. They were both looking fit, I thought, having obviously lost weight since our last encounter. I made a mental note that each had left a few forkfuls of food on […]
Prayers in Honor of the Dead
This is the time of year when Jewish people celebrate the High Holy Days, which include Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Since at least the fourteenth century, they have followed a custom known in Hebrew as Kever Avot, meaning “grave of the fathers,” where they offer graveside prayers in […]
School Daze
Tuesday marked the start of the tutoring year. Zoey and I had been scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Based on the last two years, I can say she is an eager student and a person who strives to excel academically. I’m happy to push her hard. In these respects, Zoey is different from the […]
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
The first weekend of the professional football season is now complete. As has been the case for far too many seasons, my team melted down just when it mattered most, coming up short against a hated rival. In the immediate aftermath, I halfheartedly listen to the angry, postgame blowback of fans on sports radio, which […]
Step Right This Way
I have been putting together a proposal for a 2-hour tour of one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods. At least that’s how Time Out describes the neighborhood where I live. To me, it is simply the place where I have chosen to spend most of my adult life. Describing it as one of the world’s […]
Dream Kisses and Decorating Tips
Lee still appears in my dreams from time to time, though infrequently. In my favorite and most memorable dream, she tells me that she feels better. Given that she has been sick for so long, I am grateful and happy to get this unexpected, good news, yet secretly I remain nervous pending the results of […]
Why I Strive
I have volunteered to lead occasional tours of my neighborhood for out-of-town visitors. The goal of the not-for-profit organization that is sponsoring these neighborhood tours is to promote understanding among people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. I was required to submit a formal application, which is pending. However, based on my experience as a volunteer […]
No Place Like Home
Lola the Wonder Dog and I departed from home two weeks ago on a Sunday to make the six-hour drive to Craig and Donna’s lakeside place. Lola is a terrific car dog. I occasionally had to glance over my shoulder just to be sure I hadn’t inadvertently left her behind at a gas station. It […]
Gone Fishin’
I am taking this week off to travel with Robyn and visit our families. Be back next week! Gary
A Birthday Surprise
I recently heard from Lee’s nephew, Andy, whom I don’t talk to often. Never have, even when Lee was alive. Don’t get me wrong, Andy is a nice fellow. He is married with two kids, has a career, is much younger than I am, and has his own life. Usually, if we talk, there is […]
A Fiftieth Birthday Milestone
Everybody is familiar with making New Year’s resolutions. I have made – and broken—more than my fair share in seventy-four years of life. Whether these involved joining a gym or losing weight, their enduring role in people’s daily lives prompted researchers to investigate whether temporal landmarks motivate people to tackle their goals. Indeed, they found […]