Dearest Rachel – I think I mentioned last week (although I can’t seem to find anything that explicitly said so to you) that I was going to go into more detail about my preparations for next spring’s trip after my follow-up visit with my agent; the idea behind it was that I could give youContinue reading “Dotting ‘I’s, Crossing ‘T’s”
Monthly Archives: October 2023
It Seems I Don’t Get ‘Hangry’ – But I Probably Should
Dearest Rachel – The English language is a peculiar one, isn’t it? As I understand it, it’s the only one for which a thesaurus exists, but given that is does, it proves extremely necessary. We can use all manner of words to describe virtually every situation – although this appears to result in us AnglophonesContinue reading “It Seems I Don’t Get ‘Hangry’ – But I Probably Should”
In Praise of Impurity
Dearest Rachel – You’re probably looking at that title, and bracing yourself for what is commonly referred to here on the interwebs as “a hot take.” There’s likely to be a heavy dose of self-justification and attempts to explain my position on this matter, especially considering that the words as put up there seem, onContinue reading “In Praise of Impurity”
from Rachel: To Be Beautiful
List the four girlish dreams in our lesson yesterday. Place a check beside each of the dreams you remember having as a little girl. 1. “to be a bride 2. “to be beautiful √3. “to be fruitful 4. “to live happily ever after √” “As a child I knew other children who couldn’t wait toContinue reading “from Rachel: To Be Beautiful”
A Little Bit Different Every Time
Dearest Rachel – So, as I promised, I’m going to try and fill you in on everything leading up to – and during – the Family Fest. While most of it is fairly consistent from year to year – particularly my own station, which hasn’t essentially changed in over a decade (and possibly even two;Continue reading “A Little Bit Different Every Time”
Commemoration, Commiseration… and Commitments
Dearest Rachel – Today, I probably should be telling you about the events of the annual Halloween substitute that we have at the church (hey, if the real Halloween refuses to move around such that it falls on a Saturday, when it’s easier for the kids to go around gathering candy from houses in broadContinue reading “Commemoration, Commiseration… and Commitments”
Someone Else’s Story, For a Change
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know what it is about me, but I seem to be the opposite of the human stereotype, when it comes to time and energy. I used to consider myself a morning person only out of necessity (or by default, as it was fairly obvious that I was never a nightContinue reading “Someone Else’s Story, For a Change”
“Turnover, Turnover, Turnover!”
Dearest Rachel – While you weren’t generally interested in watching sportsball games with me (a fact that ultimately led me to give up watching such contests regularly, as I discovered that it was no fun to do so without being able to comment about the game to someone equally knowledgeable about the on field activities;Continue reading ““Turnover, Turnover, Turnover!””
Life vs. Existence
Waking up to another dark morningPeople are mourningThe weather in life outside is storming… Superchick, “We Live,” from Beauty From Pain (2005) Dearest Rachel – This song wasn’t the first thing in my head this morning. To be honest – and you’ll hear about it in a minute – there wasn’t much of anything goingContinue reading “Life vs. Existence”
Jealous Of Your Ghost
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been showing your ring around to certain people lately (in fairness, I’m not sure that photographs, despite being able to show it at a magnified level, can do the image justice, so as many as can see it in person, the better). Most of them are reasonably impressed by it, butContinue reading “Jealous Of Your Ghost”
But Why Are They Starting to Notice?
Dearest Rachel – After nearly a year and a half of keeping track, and doing this thing or that to try to determine what might best assist me in my efforts to lose weight, it would seem that the process is starting to bear fruit. People are noticing. When I arrived at the folks’ lastContinue reading “But Why Are They Starting to Notice?”
The Effects of Bingeing
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve filled you in several times already about my new tradition of fasting on Sunday on the weekends when I’m working in the booth. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve gotten tired of hearing about it; there are times when I get tired of describing what I haveContinue reading “The Effects of Bingeing”
from Rachel: To Be a Bride
Practice scripture memory by writing Isaiah 61:3 in the margin. “‘And provide for those who grieve in Zion, to bestow on them a crown of beauty, instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, aContinue reading “from Rachel: To Be a Bride”
Busman’s Friday Evening
Dearest Rachel – The girls came over last night (well, as Meatloaf once put it, “two out of three ain’t bad”), in emulation of those days gone by when we would get together to play games and the like. Those days, unfortunately, have been much fewer and further between – and also decidedly much shorter.Continue reading “Busman’s Friday Evening”
Failed Discipline
Dearest Rachel – In the past few years – especially in the last thousand days, for fairly obvious reasons – I’ve been constantly trying to add this thing or that to my ‘routine,’ such as it is. Some have stuck, at least thus far – these letters in and of themselves, for example, but alsoContinue reading “Failed Discipline”
The Course of a Thousand Days
Dearest Rachel – It’s not as obvious as looking on the calendar and seeing a “23” on it, as happens every month. It probably would have even passed my notice if it weren’t for the fact that I’ve been sending “a line a day when you’re far away,” and the site keeps tabs of howContinue reading “The Course of a Thousand Days”
What it Means to be Home
Dearest Rachel – I’ve told you before about how I’ve been trying to expand the assortment of music I’m exposed to, if for no other reason than that to dilute the frequency I have to deal with songs that we would have considered ‘ours,’ whether or not they were part of our mix tape collectionContinue reading “What it Means to be Home”
The Second Side of Solomon
Dearest Rachel – I wonder if, after my letter from just the other day touching on the subject, my change in attitude is likely to give you a touch of whiplash. At the same time, for all your own emotional stability in general, you were acquainted with the caprice of mood from time to time,Continue reading “The Second Side of Solomon”
Creating Unnecessary Chaos
Dearest Rachel – I think I might have told you about how I couldn’t figure out how to get the wall-mounted space heater in our bedroom to fire up and run as this season has grown colder; if I haven’t, I guess I’m telling you now. There’s a pull chain underneath it that would seemContinue reading “Creating Unnecessary Chaos”
Snogging in Church
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned recently that we’re in the middle of a series on the Beatitudes at church. This past weekend’s topic was on hungering and thirsting for righteousness. It was pointed out that, just as in the real, physical world, there is healthy food, and there is junk food that we find ourselvesContinue reading “Snogging in Church”
Not Instant, But Gratifying
Dearest Rachel – Setting aside the fact that I’ve explicitly told you numerous times over the course of the last thousand days, I’m sure you could figure out on your own that I don’t enjoy any aspect involved in what I often refer to as my ‘weight loss journey.’ Between the exertions of my workoutContinue reading “Not Instant, But Gratifying”
from Rachel: Ashes Instead of Honor
This week’s memory verse is Isaiah 61:3 “‘And provide for those who grieve in Zion to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of theContinue reading “from Rachel: Ashes Instead of Honor”
“That Guy” in a Panic
Dearest Rachel – It’s not often that I find myself in the middle of an actual nightmare, particularly one as vivid and engrossing as this. Normally, of course, my worse dreams tend to be muddled and confusing, and those bad ones that are clear leave me wanting to escape them. Which, of course, I eventuallyContinue reading ““That Guy” in a Panic”
Healthcare Priorities
Dearest Rachel – Today’s ‘work’ day is going to be shorter than most, so I figure I ought to get this letter out to you sooner as well. Then again, who knows? There may be certain results from the reason I’m leaving the ‘office’ so soon that I’ll want to tell you about. Let’s seeContinue reading “Healthcare Priorities”
Hardware Upgrade
Dearest Rachel – I hardly need to remind you how, despite having a certain amount of financial privilege by the tail end of your life, each of us came from a certain frugal upbringing. Your parents, despite each being university professors (with salaries commensurate to such a position) never could shake off the effects ofContinue reading “Hardware Upgrade”
For All the Money in the World
Dearest Rachel – I’m not sure what you’re likely to make of this letter; the topic isn’t exactly one of the most interesting to discuss (although it’s certainly one that might come up from time to time between a married couple, I suppose, just like any major expenditure). I’ll try to make it reasonably engaging,Continue reading “For All the Money in the World”
(Not) In the Mood
Dearest Rachel – I woke up this morning to a bedroom as dark as it ever gets, given that it has three walls with windows on them, and the outside light (such as it is) can always seep in. It was earlier than I needed to be awake, that seemed certain; and sure enough, whenContinue reading “(Not) In the Mood”
Thoughts In Recovery
Dearest Rachel – I hope that you’ll forgive me if this morning, my letter turns out to be considerably more fragmented than the last couple I’ve sent you. After committing more than four thousand words to… not paper, exactly… text, I suppose? it shouldn’t come as any surprise that anything I might say now isContinue reading “Thoughts In Recovery”
Catching Up With the Crowd
Dearest Rachel – Twenty-two miles in, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Erin – which, if she’s wearing that bright orange kerchief she’d been sporting at church last night as part of her running ensemble (an eminently suitable choice, being both brightly colored and a unique combination), she really ought to be easyContinue reading “Catching Up With the Crowd”
In Pursuit of Those Faster Than Myself
Dearest Rachel – So… it begins again. It’s marathon day, and I’m once again going through the stations of the cheering sections (yes, I know what that sounds like) to offer encouragement to the World Vision team from church. That’s what I’m telling myself, and I’m going to stick to that story for now; certainly,Continue reading “In Pursuit of Those Faster Than Myself”
from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Loss
Have you ever experienced a season when you seemed to face one loss after another? If so, describe when and what it involved. “Thankfully, no, not yet. I do dread the potential approach of one now that Mom has joined Dad in the eighties.” Have you ever experienced feelings of grief that surprised you orContinue reading “from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Loss”
As Long as I’m Up
Dearest Rachel – To be fair, I hadn’t planned for things to happen like this (gosh, that’s become a familiar refrain in my life, now, hasn’t it?). After all, I’d been up until what constituted a late hour for me – eleven o’clock, yes, now stop laughing – working on a new build that mayContinue reading “As Long as I’m Up”
Holding My Hand Again
Dearest Rachel – It’s turning into a rather busy day, despite the fact that I took the day off from the ‘office.’ To be sure, the reasons I did would provide fodder for two whole other letters already. The first, of course, being the fact that we were to sat one final goodbye to Kevin,Continue reading “Holding My Hand Again”
The Final Return
Dearest Rachel – He’s about a month late from his usual schedule, but it would seem that Kevin has made one last trip back up here. This time, however, is not for a visit, but to stay here permanently. The thing is, he was a native son of the area, growing up in the DesContinue reading “The Final Return”
Old Reliable?
Dearest Rachel – There are some days when I don’t have a whole lot to write you about, and way too much time to do so. So I’ll fill a lot of space just complaining about the fact that, for all the things that I may have done in the day, there’s nothing particularly specialContinue reading “Old Reliable?”
If This Be Treason…
Dearest Rachel – When you come down to it, this is probably one of those stories that I don’t really have the right to tell, since it’s not exactly mine. I may participate in it, to be sure, but my perspective on the event is merely from the periphery. At the same time, it’s notContinue reading “If This Be Treason…”
Fitful
Dearest Rachel – There’s really no other way to characterize last night’s attempt at a decent night’s sleep. From about three-thirty onwards, there barely seemed to be a moment when I wasn’t aware (I hesitate to say ‘conscious,’ as that’s a little too on the nose) of lying in bed, hoping for sleep to comeContinue reading “Fitful”
Laundry Morning
Dearest Rachel – As with a number of mornings, I don’t really have anything in the way of a coherent story to tell you about today. No weird dreams, apart from a scene or two of the two of us competing in a old-school video game tournament against a number of other individuals and teamsContinue reading “Laundry Morning”
from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Betrayal
Write your own paraphrase of Psalm 119:92. “If I hadn’t had Your Word to cling to, my troubles would’ve been the death of me.” Read Psalm 55:1-11. How would you describe David’s frame of mind at this point in his life? “Beleaguered; overwhelmed by feelings of fear and of castigation by everyone around him” WithoutContinue reading “from Rachel: Hearts Broken by Betrayal”
Letters to Rachel 