Esther She cried when she saw me. I don't blame her. I looked nothing like I looked the last time she saw me, and it was a shock. I get it. Lately I shock myself when I catch myself in front of the mirror. That guy in the mirror looks bad. Certainly he looks worse... Continue Reading →
Things I overheard at a funeral
My oldest brother died back in 2015 at the age of 72. He loved to laugh. He would have gotten a kick at some of the things I overheard at his funeral. "We are all on a train in life. None of us chose to get on this train but this is where we find... Continue Reading →
The Shadow
I remember the moment when Andre was first diagnosed with cancer. We all waited and hoped for a miracle before the results came. His mom had cancer at the same age so the idea that one of her kids might get it too was always in the back of our mind. I know now that... Continue Reading →
On a wing and a prayer…
Not 5 minutes from where I live is one of my favorite coffee shops. It's a small and cozy place that sits in a commercial plaza filled with other food or drink business of one type or another. The entire plaza here is surrounded by trees, mostly palm trees, as that is the official adopted... Continue Reading →
Death and other bruises
Have you ever carved your name onto a tree or scratched it onto some rock? Have you wondered how long it would remain there even after you are gone? I suppose we all have. And I suppose we are all fated never to know the answer to that question. A book I read recently expressed... Continue Reading →
Love remembered
It is a fearful thing, to love what death can touch.-Yehuda HaLevi My sister died a few days ago. We didn't see each other much. My dad was married twice and had a whole set of kids before me and my immediate brothers and sisters were born. They were all grown before we came along... Continue Reading →
The Randomness of Me 2 (thoughts from last week)
The Birds. I was reading a book on my balcony when I noticed a black bird flying back and forth from who knows where to the base of a large Mexican Oak tree in front of me. The tree blocks all view for me, but I don't mind. The tree itself is a good view.... Continue Reading →
THE HELPERS
"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."- Mr. Rogers I know who you are. You are the person that can’t help but tear up every time you hear the song “Fight Song”. You can’t see a small child with a beanie cap covering their entire scalp without wondering if they... Continue Reading →
A moment out of time
Time is the fire in which we burn. - Delmore Schwartz The guy was actually hanging half out the car window yelling "hey!" and throwing me the finger. Not really a major thing, except that I was on duty, and in a police car. What a dumbass. I swung around and lit up the car... Continue Reading →
The Obituary
My mother died on a Wednesday in September almost 13 years ago at the age of 66. Lauren, my youngest, was almost 6 years old at the time . They were very close. Lauren actually reminds me of mom a lot. They both shared a kindness towards people in need that I think is rare.... Continue Reading →