Dearest Rachel – I’ve been up long enough already today that I can barely remember my dream last night. All that comes to mind is that I was one of maybe the last twelve or twenty humans left on the planet. It wasn’t a case of having to deal with tons of dead bodies everywhereContinue reading “What Scares You?”
Monthly Archives: October 2024
Giving the Computer Ideas
Dearest Rachel – Admittedly, most of what I’ve been doing with the whole artificial intelligence artwork thing has been me making pictures of you. Some have been astonishingly realistic, to the point where, if I wasn’t the one creating them (and therefore knowing better), I might be able to implant false memories about you intoContinue reading “Giving the Computer Ideas”
Another Month, Another Expenditure
Dearest Rachel – This is not an observation (complaint?) that is unique to me, of course; even this past Sunday saw your own notes drift toward similar financial concerns that plagued us throughout almost all of our time together. And it’s not as if our situation was unique, either; financial issues are literally the numberContinue reading “Another Month, Another Expenditure”
Singing Through Clenched Teeth
Dearest Rachel – With the multi-front war going on in the Middle East, it was determined the other Sunday to make the weekly communal moment of prayer about the situation. The thing is, given the fog of war, it’s hard to know what, exactly, to ask God for; aside from the question of the goodContinue reading “Singing Through Clenched Teeth”
from Rachel: Bless the Lord
Glance back on the Word Biblical Commentary translation of Psalm 134 and write the basic message of the final Psalm of Ascent: “Come bless YAHWEH, worship Him, and be blessed by Him.” I chose the WBC translation because I knew we’d more likely notice the repetition of the less familiar Yahweh than the expected title,Continue reading “from Rachel: Bless the Lord”
No Time to Spare
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure that some of these letters look a bit like they were pre-written, rather than covering the events of the day – which probably make them look a little less heartfelt. It’s what happens sometimes when I’m trying to say something to you every day, when there’s not a whole lotContinue reading “No Time to Spare”
Listening To The Rain
Dearest Rachel – I opened my eyes this morning to the usual darkness; there wasn’t much for me to see, even if I were to bother to put my glasses on. I didn’t even bother to check the time first, as I could hear the rain on the bedroom roof. It didn’t sound as ifContinue reading “Listening To The Rain”
Upending The Schedule
Dearest Rachel – Assuming you’ve been keeping an eye on me like I always ask you to, you know what my schedule looks like on an average day. For that matter, it’s not that much different than it was when you were still around, come to that. I’d get up in the morning, head overContinue reading “Upending The Schedule”
Those First Few Realizations
Dearest Rachel – Good morning, and I hope you’re enjoying your forty-fifth month in the Kingdom. I admit to not always acknowledging these months anymore as they pass. Much of the time, it’s because I’m actually preoccupied with what passes for my usual life, and I don’t notice the day has come and gone untilContinue reading “Those First Few Realizations”
Routine But Rare
Dearest Rachel – I sometimes wonder what little things I might say or do will happen to resonate with someone, without me ever knowing it. To be sure, everybody makes offhand comments from time to time; sometimes, one of them lands in an onlooker’s mind, and stays there for the rest of their lives. ByContinue reading “Routine But Rare”
Bring Out Your Death Certificate
Dearest Rachel – You and Daniel would, on more than one occasion, give me grief about the fact that, compared to the two of you (which just shows that you raised him right, I suppose), I was – and still am – a pessimist and a cynic. When it came to events in the widerContinue reading “Bring Out Your Death Certificate”
from Rachel: A United Family of God
Please glance back at your previous lesson and re-read Psalm 133. What two metaphors did the psalmist employ as expressions of kindred living together in unity?First metaphor (v. 2): “fine oil on the head”Second metaphor (v. 3): “the dew from Mount Hermon” Read Exodus 29:1-9 and describe it briefly here:“God told Moses how to consecrateContinue reading “from Rachel: A United Family of God”
To Live For a Lie
Dearest Rachel – As with yesterday, a lot of what I have to say has to do with a song that entered my head and knocked about for a bit while I question its whole premise. This time, at least, it hasn’t been out of some urgent need to quell the silence within and aroundContinue reading “To Live For a Lie”
Stuff and Junk and Stuff
Dearest Rachel – You might remember one of those many anime gag dubs we used to collect back in the day from Midnight Madnesses past in which a character made fun of the fact that their lips kept moving after they’d essentially said what they had to (and while that has been a running jokeContinue reading “Stuff and Junk and Stuff”
Chipping Away at Progress
Dearest Rachel – After waking up from (and amazingly, going back to, at least for an hour or so before conceding to the day) a dream about having been college buddies with Matsuhito, the future Emperor Meiji (setting the anachronisms aside, the idea that a future Japanese emperor would study abroad when his country wasContinue reading “Chipping Away at Progress”
At Participating Locations, While Supplies Last
Dearest Rachel – While I’m sure that, to a certain extent, I coddle both Daniel and his friend Logan a bit more than I should, given that they’re supposedly grown men who should be able to pay their own way in life at their age, I don’t know that I can really help myself. I’mContinue reading “At Participating Locations, While Supplies Last”
Ocular Rift
Dearest Rachel – Since your passing, you’d probably be amazed about how often I’ve checked in with one health care professional or another, considering how little I chose to do so back in the day. I mean, sure, I canceled that appointment with the dietitian that was scheduled the week after your accident, but IContinue reading “Ocular Rift”
A Weight Off My Ankles
Dearest Rachel – Since I wasn’t completely laid up by my cold during the latter half of last week – sure, I confined myself to the house for a day, but it wasn’t as if I was flat on my back for the better part of twenty-four hours like I used to be – itContinue reading “A Weight Off My Ankles”
from Rachel: A United Family of Man
Think back on times you’ve taken long trips with people, family, or not. Based on those experiences what makes traveling together particularly challenging? “sometimes lack of personal space and privacy, just trying to have fun instead of getting on anyone’s nerves” Think of someone with whom you enjoy traveling. What makes it work? “Randy –Continue reading “from Rachel: A United Family of Man”
Breaking Training
Dearest Rachel – Thanks to the effects of this cold – symptoms such as coughing, congestion and sneezing, combined with more peripheral effects such as body aches and a general malaise, not to mention the concern about further contagion – this is the third morning in a row in which I haven’t made it toContinue reading “Breaking Training”
Deadlines and Promises
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure I’ve mentioned it over the past couple of years worth of letters, but you’ll remember either way how it was a running joke within our little family that the three of us always got the same amount of cold when it swept through the house; we just got it overContinue reading “Deadlines and Promises”
Sick People
Dearest Rachel – Well, I honestly thought I might get away with it. Given that my exercise regimen supposedly should have a positive effect on my health and immune system, I half-expected that I might be able to dodge whatever it is that Daniel came down with late last week. And maybe that’s still inContinue reading “Sick People”
Election Day Dreams
Dearest Rachel – I’m not really sure why my dream this past evening seemed to be about Election Day. It’s not as if we hear in America actually celebrate the day with any festivities to speak of, especially as compared to our cousins across the sea, who will be setting off fireworks and burning someContinue reading “Election Day Dreams”
Slapped By the Sun
Dearest Rachel – I’m told that, within the last day or two, we got slapped by the sun. Or maybe we’re going to be; I’m not sure how it works. Apparently, there was this huge solar flare yesterday afternoon (our time; I’m not sure how that works for the sun), although I could swear I’veContinue reading “Slapped By the Sun”
Finally Back Into The Weeds
Dearest Rachel – No, this doesn’t have anything to do with the yard; I don’t even get out there anymore to mow, now that I’ve enlisted a service to take care of that for me (and I admit, I’m not entirely sure what you would think about that. Would you be as reluctant to doContinue reading “Finally Back Into The Weeds”
from Rachel: God Talks Back
On a scale of 1 to 10, how convinced are you that your prayer time is an honest-to-goodness two-way communication? “10 – how convinced I am“7 – how often it actually is… (or maybe 6?)” If we don’t ‘ask or imagine,’ what does God have to out-do? Glance at the first half of [Psalm 132]Continue reading “from Rachel: God Talks Back”
Starting From Scratch
Dearest Rachel – I was really hoping that by now, I could go into great detail about how this new AI program, combined with a checkpoint based on terabytes of information (that even allows one to display readable text) was helping me create a much better and more accurate version of you. Well, I sayContinue reading “Starting From Scratch”
Close the Whine Cellar
Dearest Rachel – Another insanely early morning (I fell asleep before ten last night, and found myself waking up at three; this whole circadian rhythm thing is beginning to be a self-perpetuating problem), and I step outside to discover the streets are slick with moisture. Evidently, it rained overnight, and I don’t recall hearing anyContinue reading “Close the Whine Cellar”
In No Hurry… And Yet…
Dearest Rachel – One of the great advantages of the early retirement that you permitted me to take is that I’m not beholden to the various time pressures of the workaday world. I don’t have to set an alarm; I can wake up organically, without having to subject myself to its insistent screech every morning.Continue reading “In No Hurry… And Yet…”
Rough Start
Dearest Rachel – It occurs to me that, if you were still around, and I was doing the same thing that I’m doing now (which, I’ll be honest, seems unlikely, as why would I need to change for you?), I don’t think I’d be talking as much about my workout regimen, as it wouldn’t exactlyContinue reading “Rough Start”
For the Ones Who Have…
Dearest Rachel – There are plenty of luxury items that bill themselves as gift possibilities “for the man (or woman) who has everything.” Heck, there are entire shopping locales that are built to hawk such wares, most of which strike me as being geared for those with more money than sense, in my humble opinion.Continue reading “For the Ones Who Have…”
Letters to Rachel 