Dearest Rachel – I’m not going to lie to you (after all, why start now?), this trip has wreaked havoc with my circadian rhythm. For all that I’ve been trying to stay up later in order to thus sleep in that much longer thereafter, I’ve been waking up at around two in the morning regardlessContinue reading “Twenty-Three Hour Days”
Monthly Archives: May 2026
from Rachel: Searching for Wisdom (parts one and 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. “These closing remarks in the Sermon on the Mount concisely and powerfully state the non-negotiable, bottom-line requirements for wisdom – the mind of Christ. They are not atContinue reading “from Rachel: Searching for Wisdom (parts one and two)”
Not Yet Able to Relax
Dearest Rachel – You might recall, as I was wrapping up yesterday‘s activities, that I mentioned about how the next week or so would be spent at sea, and therefore, I wouldn’t be running around one port or another, trying to accomplish this thing or that. Daniel and I could just sit back – orContinue reading “Not Yet Able to Relax”
Two Out Of Three…
Dearest Rachel – According to Meatloaf, I’m told that “ain’t bad.” But for whatever reason, our visit to Hokkaido wasn’t quite as successful as Daniel and I wanted it to be. During that last hour before boarding call, as we dithered about whether to stay on land – and where to go if we didContinue reading “Two Out Of Three…”
When A Plan Comes Together
Dearest Rachel – It probably goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: there’s a marked difference between a tour and just wandering about a city. With a tour, you have a guide who generally knows the territory – or at least the territory they’re taking you through. You may feel like you’reContinue reading “When A Plan Comes Together”
I’d Hoped to Have More Time…
Dearest Rachel – Honestly, this is a phrase that could cover this entire site; I’ve said time and again that I’d assumed we’d have had decades together, where we would see the world (and show it to Daniel), and enjoy each other’s company for the rest of our lives. Especially given your family history ofContinue reading “I’d Hoped to Have More Time…”
A Chance to Catch Up
Dearest Rachel – So this trip is made up of three separate sections in all; a short week in Japan (which is what we’re truly here for, since it’s about the only way for us to make a stop in Sapporo), a second, full week of sea days up north, and finally, a week involvingContinue reading “A Chance to Catch Up”
Going Our Own Way
Dearest Rachel – At the risk of possibly earworming you with that old Fleetwood Mac song (which absolutely does not apply; I checked both the lyrics and the backstory, and yeah, it’s completely out of place in this context), this pretty much summed up our excursion today into Tokyo. I was okay with riding theContinue reading “Going Our Own Way”
More Than A Few Headaches
Dearest Rachel – For all that you apparently disliked air travel in general (a fact that I didn’t catch onto until our final year together, and will never quite get over, either that you were like that or that I never knew until then), I would think that flights to the Pacific would be perfectlyContinue reading “More Than A Few Headaches “
A Long Way From Where We’re Going
Dearest Rachel – I set my alarm this morning for five o’clock, and woke up almost exactly at four, instead. That’s what comes of going to bed at only a little after eight, I suppose. It gave me a little extra time to get myself pulled together – including writing you (or rather, commenting onContinue reading “A Long Way From Where We’re Going”
from Rachel: Getting in Touch With Reality (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.“In fact, you may experience a great deal of frustration that the kind of relationship with him that you desire seems so elusive – I do feel like IContinue reading “from Rachel: Getting in Touch With Reality (part three)”
With His Blessing
Dearest Rachel – I’ve mentioned before that, like with my trip early in 2024, I – we, since Daniel is coming with this time around – have Dad’s blessing to head out on this trip. Despite the fact that his baseline health is noticeably worse than it was back then – what he’s been easedContinue reading “With His Blessing”
Transition Accomplished
Dearest Rachel – I won’t argue it; the title smacks of that moment on the battleship with the president addressing the troops after the successful (at the time) of toppling Saddam Hussien and taking over Iraq. In fact, the banner was actually referring to a specific mission that the ship and its crew had beenContinue reading “Transition Accomplished”
Moving Back Home
Dearest Rachel – I wasn’t going to head to the rehab center yesterday, despite the fact that it was to be the day Dad moved out, presumably for the final time in his life. It might have been a reasonable idea to be on hand to bid farewell to a team of nurses that hadContinue reading “Moving Back Home”
Salariman no Pai
Dearest Rachel – And now, a slight break from the heaviness of dealing with Dad’s declining health and the craziness of abruptly moving him back home from rehab. There will be time to go over that later today – or maybe tomorrow, depending on whether, and when, I have time – but every now andContinue reading “Salariman no Pai”
“You Are Legends”
Dearest Rachel – For all that we’ve set plans in motion to swiftly bring Dad back home to be comfortable in his last days, there’s more that needs to be taken care of than the “comfort care” organization can or will provide. After all, they’re basically fully paid for by Medicare, but there are thingsContinue reading ““You Are Legends””
The “Suddenly” Part
Dearest Rachel – There’s a line in one of Hemingway’s novels where a character is asked how it came to be that he went bankrupt. His response is an interesting one, but one that makes perfect sense upon reflection: “Gradually… and then suddenly.” I haven’t read the novel in question – I don’t even knowContinue reading “The “Suddenly” Part”
Secret Keeper
Dearest Rachel – Three weeks ago, while Dad was still in the hospital before being transferred into the rehabilitation center that he’s staying at presently, he was visited by our lead pastor. Not to offer any sort of last rites or anything like that; for one thing (as you know), we don’t do that, atContinue reading “Secret Keeper”
Hung Up On the Future
Dearest Rachel – It’s weird to realize that, in less than a week from now, Daniel and I will be winging our way back to Tokyo after a little more than two months. It somehow manages to take the punch out of the convention, in much the same way that two years ago, it feltContinue reading “Hung Up On the Future”
from Rachel: Getting in Touch With Reality (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.“ marriage was created by God to mirror the kind of relationship he wishes to have with us. Intimate fellowship with God, as we can see, is more thanContinue reading “from Rachel: Getting in Touch With Reality (part two)”
Odd Thoughts
Dearest Rachel – I’ll be honest; I didn’t know when or whether I’d actually get around to writing you this weekend. It’s why I had something mostly pre-written for Friday – and a good thing, too, as I was too busy once we arrived at the convention to really actually get much written down yesterday.Continue reading “Odd Thoughts”
Casting Off
Dearest Rachel – You would’ve been proud of the boys, honey. Maybe more Logan than Daniel, but we were up and out of the house at what you would have considered a respectable hour. Having been fed before leaving, we saw no need to stop for breakfast provisions like donuts or the like that weContinue reading “Casting Off”
Only So Much Time
Dearest Rachel – Given that I prefer to get a letter out to you early on in the day, in case I run out of time as the day wears on, today is going to be a real challenge. It’s why I’m trying to at least get it started a couple of days beforehand, soContinue reading “Only So Much Time”
Cleaning Up Beforehand
Dearest Rachel – This is a topic of discussion that would never have come up between us in your lifetime. During that first year, when Jan was helping me clear the house of so much stuff that could not be gotten rid of for any one of so many reasons, she informed me that sheContinue reading “Cleaning Up Beforehand”
The Letter of the Law
Dearest Rachel – I really thought this was long since over and done with by now, honey. Most of your parents’ estate issues seemed to have been sorted out even before the lockdown clamped down on us – although not entirely, which is part of why we were caught unprepared by the fact that youContinue reading “The Letter of the Law”
“I’ll Be Right Back”
Dearest Rachel – I promise you, this letter has nothing to do with that Black Mirror episode I keep referencing (and would still kind of like to live out, just to see for myself as to whether it’s as truly awful as the show makes it out to be). No, this is more along theContinue reading ““I’ll Be Right Back””
A Single Pillow
Dearest Rachel – When Dad’s latest health issue was at its most urgent, he was in the hospital, which is practically in our backyard (especially as compared to his and Mom’s house, where I have my ‘office’). As a result, it was no trouble – and indeed, I felt it more my responsibility than myContinue reading “A Single Pillow”
from Rachel: Getting in Touch With Reality (part one)
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 see, God is the environment of man. Paul says, ‘For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.’ (Acts 17:28) – fascinating “Having a renewed mindContinue reading “from Rachel: Getting in Touch With Reality (part one)”
Babysitting Each Other
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday was a strange one, honey. Logan has headed downstate with his family, as his sister is wrapping up things at college – I forget if it’s her graduation proper, or her last turn on stage (I think she’s a theater major) – so the house is suddenly that much more quietContinue reading “Babysitting Each Other”
Mother’s Day
Dearest Rachel – You might recall that we have a traditional gift we get my mom for Mother’s Day (which, admittedly, often felt like a bit of a cop out, given how easy it was); we would head over to a local florist/garden center, and get her a gift card for the place. And whileContinue reading “Mother’s Day”
It’s My Own Fault
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know if it’s a case of my being preoccupied with one or another thing, or that you would have made it more of a priority than I have, but in either case, this would never have happened on your watch. The other day, while Daniel and I were catching upContinue reading “It’s My Own Fault”
Shivering From…?
Dearest Rachel – And just when we thought everything was sorted out, too… The thing is, Dad has been making it plain that, for all that he seemed to have been recovering from this third near-fatal incident, it’s not that he’s truly ‘getting better’ any more. On the contrary, each recovery settles him in atContinue reading “Shivering From…?”
A New Version of ‘Normal’
Dearest Rachel – Well, it would seem that the crisis has passed once again. After yet another scare, it looks like Dad is going to recover. He’s even making plans for what life will be like for him once he returns home, although he’s accepted that it won’t happen for at least three or fourContinue reading “A New Version of ‘Normal’”
If I’d Had the Time…
Dearest Rachel – Of late, I’ve begun to wonder what I would have done if your departure was anything more than the sudden shock that it was. If we’d known that it was coming – and been of the understanding that there was nothing to be done to prevent it (a combination which, to beContinue reading “If I’d Had the Time…”
from Rachel: Mortifying Your Flesh (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.“…since the flesh is always with us this side of heaven, the engine never stops. At best it is idling; at worst, it is racing! – isn’t that theContinue reading “from Rachel: Mortifying Your Flesh (part five)”
The Boys Have Made Plans
Dearest Rachel – For all that I’ve been telling you about Dad’s latest wrestling match with mortality, there have been more than a few undercard bouts that have been on the bill that I haven’t touched on. There are a couple of which I’ve thrown in the sponge until a more opportune time, such asContinue reading “The Boys Have Made Plans”
Not Always Working Out
Dearest Rachel – I had originally thought to reference the Rolling Stones’ song about how “you can’t always get what you want” in the title, but when it comes to yesterday’s events (especially the afternoon), it most certainly wasn’t an offsetting case of Dad getting what he needed. Quite the contrary, in fact, but I’llContinue reading “Not Always Working Out”
Letters to Rachel 