Dearest Rachel – I’ve talked before about how, from coast to coast, American cities pride themselves on never sleeping. It’s been celebrated in song from “New York, New York” to the San Francisco that was supposedly “built… on rock and roll.” Whether they actually stay awake, going full crank for 24/7/365 is a matter ofContinue reading “Sleeping in a Town That (Sort of) Encourages It”
Monthly Archives: February 2026
This Is Different
Dearest Rachel – We’ve done a lot of traveling in our lives, both while you were around and since you had to go. Most of those trips were cruises, where as we put it, you unpack once and let your hotel do the traveling for you. Other times, it’s been with large groups (although IContinue reading “This Is Different “
To Bless and Be a Blessing
Dearest Rachel – When we go walking in the woods every week, Lars will almost always ask me about three things in my life, only one of which has much change from week to week. That fluctuating one is my weight, although it’s less so at the moment, since I’ve given up most of whatContinue reading “To Bless and Be a Blessing”
More Than A Mood
Dearest Rachel – There were days, back when you were still here, when we would exert ourselves to the point of overdoing it, and you in particular would pay for it later on. Raking leaves comes to mind in particular, even at this opposite point on the calendar, in part because the front lawn hasContinue reading “More Than A Mood”
Better in Stepford
Dearest Rachel – The other day, I was showing Daniel one of the channels I’ve been watching while he’s been hanging out with Logan in the family room. It’s one of those film analysis essay sites, but rather than addressing the literary merits of the work, it discusses a film’s effect on the collective psycheContinue reading “Better in Stepford”
Preoccupation, Not Procrastination
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been busy every so often with tying up the odd loose end here and there – clearing my schedule and the like – in preparation for our flight to Tokyo at the end of the week. For all that I might wish that I could be perfectly nonchalant about such travels,Continue reading “Preoccupation, Not Procrastination”
Not So Much to Say as All That
Dearest Rachel – You would think that, given the unusual nature of yesterday’s events, I would have a lot to tell you about them. However, upon waking up this morning, I somehow found myself with a head full of cobwebs, and little else; so much so that, despite having retired to bed before ten o’clockContinue reading “Not So Much to Say as All That”
from Rachel: Identifying Your Own Way (part three)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“The Bible assures us, however, that we can have great hope. (There are very few quoteworthy portions of today’s passage) – a message of hope.“The Scriptures teach us thatContinue reading “from Rachel: Identifying Your Own Way (part three)”
The Reins I Didn’t Ask For…
Dearest Rachel – It so happens that, this morning, the man who leads the Saturday morning study is going to be away this week. This is around his fifth anniversary – which is wild to realize; his wife barely met you, although she did apparently see you at one point when we had convened ourContinue reading “The Reins I Didn’t Ask For…”
Asking About Autos
Dearest Rachel – Compared to the last couple of days, there’s not a whole lot going on today. I mean, there’s enough to keep me occupied, even busy, for that matter, but nothing particularly out of the ordinary that would be worth telling you about, and which you couldn’t point out that I’d told youContinue reading “Asking About Autos”
Not So Attached as All That
Dearest Rachel – For some reason, your family had a habit of naming most of your vehicles. I don’t remember all the name, to be sure – Sweet Fawn comes to mind, as that was the one you and your mom were in a fiery wreck with when you were only two or three, butContinue reading “Not So Attached as All That”
After Dark, But By Choice
Dearest Rachel – At this point in the calendar, you’d think this would be less of an issue; we’re already much closer to the vernal equinox than the winter solstice. We’re not limited to a bare handful of (mostly cloudy) hours in any given day before night falls back again, and I find myself drivingContinue reading “After Dark, But By Choice”
Cooking, For Once
Dearest Rachel – It’s not like I haven’t done this before – even preparing this specific dish, for that matter – but of a Monday evening, Daniel and I rarely stay home and fix ourselves dinner. As a general rule, we head out a little after four, and hit some place up between home andContinue reading “Cooking, For Once”
Embarrassed by Mom
Dearest Rachel – We were boarding the shuttle to one of the remote parking areas around church yesterday afternoon (we’d decided to attend the last service, since it was the most sparsely attended; not that that’s saying much, as it was pretty crowded in there as well by the time the sermon started). The onlyContinue reading “Embarrassed by Mom”
from Rachel: Identifying Your Own Way (part two)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“‘…it seems that life has fewer snags when we stay out of trouble. We often achieve the accolades and image we want. We can become smug…’ (and the wholeContinue reading “from Rachel: Identifying Your Own Way (part two)”
Devoutly to be Ignored
Dearest Rachel – This should hardly come as any great surprise to you, but I really don’t like the holiday that today happens to bear within it. I’ve come to regard it much like the reformed Ebeneezer Scrooge described his former opinion toward Christmas, as “a false and commercial festival, devoutly to be ignored.” WhichContinue reading “Devoutly to be Ignored”
On the Subject of Breadmaking
Dearest Rachel – For once when we met to go walking in the woods this week, Lars didn’t quiz me about any developments in my love life, like he usually does. To be sure, there really weren’t any to speak of – there never really are, these days – just an interesting moment tangentially relatedContinue reading “On the Subject of Breadmaking”
Chasing Numbers
Dearest Rachel – I’m telling you, honey, if it wasn’t for the fact that I’m a numbers person (like you were), I think I would have given up on this weight loss journey some time ago. Not only have things tapered off in terms of actual weight loss over the past year and a halfContinue reading “Chasing Numbers”
When the Stakes are Off the Table
Dearest Rachel – You know better than most that I’m not a particularly social creature, honey. There are times when I can fake it – and on an individual, one-on-one basis, it may not necessarily be fake at all – but for the most part, it’s very hard for me to interact with new people,Continue reading “When the Stakes are Off the Table”
My Answer to Sudoku
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been told by some folks who have a habit of reading over your shoulder that doing so feels like reading someone’s diary. And I can see why; if for no other reason, the fact that there’s something said to you every day gives it that quality right there. Then there’s theContinue reading “My Answer to Sudoku”
No More Water Coolers
Dearest Rachel – You were – and you would acknowledge this, however abashedly (depending on the circumstance) – an avid consumer of, maybe not pop culture as such, but at least media in general. Be it one or another sci-fi or fantasy series, a daytime talk show, or various comedy anthologies that would air overContinue reading “No More Water Coolers”
from Rachel: Identifying Your Own Way (part one)
“‘If you are contented with simply being nice, and you are ignoring that the ability is a gift from God, you are still a rebel’ – C. S. Lewis” “‘Immaturity’ is really selfishness and self-centeredness – putting our own pleasures and happiness above everyone else’s needs and happiness.’ “Take Time to Reflect:“I feel most secureContinue reading “from Rachel: Identifying Your Own Way (part one)”
Nightmares of Work
Dearest Rachel – I can’t believe that I still have days (well, nights, actually) when I find myself agonizing over something I need to do for work in my dreams. To call them nightmares might overstate things, but having to go in to the office and deal with Mohinder rather does border on that territory.Continue reading “Nightmares of Work”
Follow Through and Follow Up
Dearest Rachel – I promised you yesterday that I would follow through this morning with regard to working out on the treadmill after nearly a two week absence, and then follow up with you about how it worked out. So, that’s what this letter is mostly going to be about. But first, I have toContinue reading “Follow Through and Follow Up”
Socks in Bed
Dearest Rachel – For all that our bedroom was an addition tacked on later (and cheaply, we both had to agree) to the building, and therefore not connected to the main house’s HVAC system, and therefore quite cold in the winter without the wall-mounted space heater running (which would occasionally cause the room to getContinue reading “Socks in Bed”
We Are the Shoggoth
Dearest Rachel – Last night saw me alone in the bedroom throughout most of the night. Not a complaint, just stating the way things are some evenings; the boys do their thing in the family room, and I’m left to entertain myself in my wing of the house. It’s life as I know it, andContinue reading “We Are the Shoggoth”
Not Meant For Us
Dearest Rachel – Back when I still had dreams of making a YouTube channel, and trying to settle on a topic, I considering discussing the Nacirema which, for all that I remember reading about them when I was much younger (although now I’m starting to think it was a bit of the Mandela effect), IContinue reading “Not Meant For Us”
A Cold Atop The Cold
Dearest Rachel – I had fully intended – and had even begun – a second letter to you for yesterday, regarding the fact that I wasn’t dealing with a case of the ‘Sunday Scaries’ that some of the others were anticipating upon their return from Honduras. I think you know what I’m talking about, evenContinue reading “A Cold Atop The Cold”
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part five)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“You should be able to see why that renewal of the mind is so crucial – if the mind is deceived, the battle is lost – very important toContinue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part five)”
Letters to Rachel 