Dearest Rachel – Roll up, roll up for the magical matsuri tour! Step right this way… In some ways, this weekend is going to be the absolute antithesis of one of those stereotypical English ‘mystery tours.’ I know exactly what I’m getting into; I’ve been to all twenty-four Anime Centrals up until now. There isContinue reading “Magical Matsuri Tour”
Category Archives: Updates From the Abandoned Planet
Back To The Plan
Dearest Rachel – It’s taken a few extra days for me to do this, but I’ve finally got around to it. Maybe it stems from a guilty conscience about what I admitted to yesterday (combined with the fact that, as per said admission, I slept far too much during the day, and not all thatContinue reading “Back To The Plan”
The Temptation of Sloth
Dearest Rachel – I realize that, given the fact that I’m fighting the remnants of both jet lag and a cold, I might be forgiven for falling behind in my self-imposed efforts to contact you every day (especially given that, by constantly failing asleep, there’s rather little about the day to relate to you inContinue reading “The Temptation of Sloth”
Your Regularly Scheduled Lifecast
Dearest Rachel – Well, I think that’s taken care of things; with the Ultimate World Cruise (at least, the single leg I was on for) behind me, and a weekend’s worth of mostly bed rest, I think I’m ready to get back to my regular routine, after a fashion. Sure, I’ve promised myself that IContinue reading “Your Regularly Scheduled Lifecast”
We Were Ordinary
Dearest Rachel – You probably remember my surprise at some people’s reaction to my travel plans when they were slowly coming together. The fact that other clients of my travel agency would see me as That Guy going on That Trip felt a little bemusing. I mean, I didn’t see myself as being any differentContinue reading “We Were Ordinary”
What I’m Not Gonna Miss…
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned the other day about how the shower stall in my stateroom would inevitably soak the bathmat, and continue to flood the bathroom, no matter how little water I used. Well, since then, it’s proven me to be something of a liar, as it hasn’t flooded since. In fact, the bathmatContinue reading “What I’m Not Gonna Miss…”
Where Are the IT Guys?
Dearest Rachel – I wouldn’t blame you if, at this point, you’d be wondering why I haven’t put together a recap of my first day in Mumbai, at least. I’ve been prompt enough with all the other places, now, haven’t I? Yeah, well… about that… It’s not that I don’t have the material, I promiseContinue reading “Where Are the IT Guys?”
For This I Risked Deportation?
Dearest Rachel – It was a little over a week ago – just as we were coming into Vietnam – when the phone in my stateroom rang. For all the time I spend here (sometimes acknowledging that I really shouldn’t; at least, not as much as I do), this isn’t a thing that happens. IfContinue reading “For This I Risked Deportation?”
Fade Prevention
Dearest Rachel – I would have at least started this letter earlier, but for the last couple of hours, the ship’s internet connection has been out, for reasons unknown to me – and now that it is up and running, I guess there’s really no reason to pursue the matter any further. I did killContinue reading “Fade Prevention”
I Paid For This Room
Dearest Rachel – There’s a certain irony in my telling you about how, on these sea days, I prefer to stay in my room, while at the same time I’m hanging out elsewhere on the ship. In my defense, this is partly because this is about the time when I could be expecting Marlon toContinue reading “I Paid For This Room”
No Sweat
Dearest Rachel – Unlike the night before, when we were heading in to Nagasaki, and I was literally sweating out my fever, last night was a relatively easy night, even if I was still having difficulty breathing from time to time. Often I either get too warm or too cold, but last night went prettyContinue reading “No Sweat”
Return To Where I’ve Never Been
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure that, to my tablemates, my Japanophilia may seem a little strange. It dates, as you remember, from our college days, before I was aware of terms like ‘anime’ (back then, what little there was that came to the States was referred to as ‘Japanimation,’ and even then, those who coinedContinue reading “Return To Where I’ve Never Been”
Filming One’s Seoul
Dearest Rachel – Morning in Incheon starts slowly; while I’m up an hour before the alarm I set for myself, I’m slow in getting myself put together. It’s reasonable, as I don’t need to be in the theater until a quarter after nine – and the extra hour, in particular, means I have more thanContinue reading “Filming One’s Seoul”
As Early As I Can
Dearest Rachel – After several stops in a row where I’ve been running late (or at least running out of time), I’m getting an early start on the day. I set my alarm for this morning, which you’d think you’d never have to do when you’re on vacation, but there you go. Sometimes you haveContinue reading “As Early As I Can”
What Does It Matter?
Dearest Rachel – I suppose it’s appropriate to be dealing with this conundrum on April Fools’ Day. After researching about the city of Okinawa (because our latest port couldn’t be just about the prefecture by that name, since we were already here in the form of the island and city of Ishigaki), the Cruise CompassContinue reading “What Does It Matter?”
Lost Hours
Dearest Rachel – We lost an hour on our way here, honey; Japan, it so happens, runs an hour ahead of Taiwan. I set my alarm to go off fairly early, so that it would be a reasonable hour in terms of Japan time, only for that moment to have been part of the hour skipped asContinue reading “Lost Hours”
With Time to Spare (Barely)
Dearest Rachel – As much as I’ve been trained to try and get every place I mean to be as early as possible, sometimes that just doesn’t work out. I’d spent the entirety of yesterday evening uploading the mall footage from Hong Kong, and this morning dealing with the Kai Tak rooftop garden video. TheContinue reading “With Time to Spare (Barely)”
The Great Firewall
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve mentioned a couple of times about how, over the last couple of days, I haven’t been able to do all the work that I’d like to, or need to, because of limited Internet access. To be sure, “like” is a strong word for it, as I’m more than happyContinue reading “The Great Firewall”
Locked Out
Dearest Rachel – Really, it’s hard enough to get myself motivated to do actual work while I’m on this trip most days. Between the go-go-go of days that we’re in port, and the subsequent lethargy of sea days (compounded by having to deal with a restraining cold), I find myself dealing with a distinct lackContinue reading “Locked Out”
Declaring You
Dearest Rachel – I know I was just telling you the other day about the hoops I had to jump through whenever I got off the ship in Indonesia. Not that they were particularly inconvenient, mind you; it was just that the instructions themselves weren’t complete, as far as I could understand them. But asContinue reading “Declaring You”
Instructions Unclear…
Dearest Rachel – Every new port – well, at least every new country that we come to – has its own rules regarding customs declarations, and stuff like that. You can only bring so much into the country, and you can only bring so much out, especially when it comes to certain, let’s just say,Continue reading “Instructions Unclear…”
This, Too, Will Pass
Dearest Rachel – At a top speed of twenty-five knots, you might be able to guess that, as the Serenade of the Seas moves through the water, it generates a fair amount of wind against my balcony door. And for whatever reason, the door doesn’t seal tightly, causing a bit of a rattling noise whenContinue reading “This, Too, Will Pass”
Bounded In A Nutshell
Dearest Rachel – Shakespeare had Hamlet claim that he “could be bounded in a nutshell, and count [himself] a king of infinite space”; the implication being that he had no ambitions beyond that which he was at that moment straitened within, and therefore no threat to his uncle the king. A day like today hasContinue reading “Bounded In A Nutshell”
Getting Back to “Work”
Dearest Rachel – In the movie Heathers, the protagonist Veronica Sawyer describes her relationship with the titular Heathers (the queen bees of the social hierarchy at Westerberg High School) thusly: “they’re just, like, people I work with, and our job is being popular and [stuff].” Fortunately, I’m under no such onus to get out thereContinue reading “Getting Back to “Work””
No Coaching, Please!
Dearest Rachel – I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of coach tours, where you spend all of your time on a bus going from place to place, and being told about this building on the left or this structure on the right. On the other hand, when the city center is twentyContinue reading “No Coaching, Please!”
How the Honeyeaters Found Their Song: A Non-Legend
Dearest Rachel – I’m no more going to be able to write to you about my experience driving a quad than I could film it; at least, I could tell you about it immediately after the fact: After our adventure with the quad bikes, we had a snack and a go through of the MurrookContinue reading “How the Honeyeaters Found Their Song: A Non-Legend”
No Yellow Brick Road
Dearest Rachel – I didn’t mention it the other day in my research, but you’re probably familiar with the fact that the nation of Australia is referred to as “Oz,” and not in connection to L. Frank Baum’s beloved book series (of which I forget if you had the entire collection, but I’m pretty sureContinue reading “No Yellow Brick Road”
Facts and Stories
Dearest Rachel – The sun eventually rises, and we find ourselves looking at a much calmer day than yesterday. Even the tender over to Waitanga is fairly smooth; although we do hit a brief stretch of wake that I can’t help but comment upon in that instant (because I know you would be exulting inContinue reading “Facts and Stories”
Early
Dearest Rachel – For all the times I’ve thus far on this journey ‘complained’ (if that’s really the right word; to be honest, I find it more useful than the alternative) that I keep waking up hours earlier than I really need to, as if I hadn’t adjusted to the current time zone. But withContinue reading “Early”
A Place to Focus
Dearest Rachel – After so many days at sea from L.A. to Hawaii, from Hawaii to Polynesia, and now from Polynesia to New Zealand, I’m starting to become aware of just how much of that time I’m spending in my stateroom, rather than getting out and wandering amongst the crowds, such as they are (thisContinue reading “A Place to Focus”
How Time Flows
Dearest Rachel – You’ve heard it from me before, but as long as I can’t get a definitive answer (from you or anyone else), I ’m going to keep asking it; how is it that time flows on your side of eternity? Paul talks about the day when we all will be raised, the deadContinue reading “How Time Flows”
Time to Waste
Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. Attributed to Bertrand Russell, Lawrence Peter, and John Lennon, among others Dearest Rachel – The above quotation, whoever is said to have coined it, is a phrase that you and I lived by as much as possible. Given our schedules, idle hours were a few and farContinue reading “Time to Waste”
Attempting to Drift
Dearest Rachel – Even though I’m still feeling like I’m on Central Time to a certain extent, just because I managed to wake up early enough to watch the ship come in doesn’t mean that I’m actually productive at such an hour. Or rather, it’s not a complete form of productivity; I managed to compile and uploadContinue reading “Attempting to Drift”
What Happens Next
Dearest Rachel – After that long wait to get myself on a tender, several of the crew came up from the gangway deck to let us know that tender #15 had space for just ten more people. I was among the ones who volunteered, and literally was the last person on. It was either thatContinue reading “What Happens Next”
Red Skies, Rough Seas?
Dearest Rachel – I still haven’t gotten the point where I’m quite accustomed to the time zone. It’s probably not helped by the fact that I don’t see myself as having much to do after dinner, since I’m not the club type. Last night, after wrapping up, assembling a couple of videos from the day,Continue reading “Red Skies, Rough Seas?”
Trying to Keep Up in Oahu
Dearest Rachel – I promise this will be my last reference to Peppo’s Pidgin To Da Max, but this morning has me remembering a cartoon of a bright and cheery bus driver addressing his load of tired tourists with a clearly booming “Aloha, keiki! Get da kine makapiapia outta you eyes! We get plenny fo’Continue reading “Trying to Keep Up in Oahu”
I Didn’t Forget… Quite
Dearest Rachel – There’s something about being on vacation that… I won’t say “upsets one schedule,” because that’s kind of the whole point. Not all travel is meant to be relaxing – and, as I’ve discussed before about the word’s origins, it wasn’t considered to be at all back in the day – but leisureContinue reading “I Didn’t Forget… Quite”
Back On Dry(?) Land
Dearest Rachel – After five whole (and two partial, if you count Sunday afternoon and the wee hours of this morning) days at sea, I’m looking forward to getting back onto dry land. I realize that the term ‘dry’ is a relative term, given that the morning is expected to be rainy –maybe it couldContinue reading “Back On Dry(?) Land”
More Hours in the Day…
Dearest Rachel – It’s considered to be an axiom of travel that, for every time zone that you cross in your journeys, you need a day in which to recover from the change. It doesn’t matter whether you’re ‘springing forward’ or ‘falling back’; any change in time causes a certain amount of disorientation that onlyContinue reading “More Hours in the Day…”
Blood Signal
Dearest Rachel – Well, this turned out to be something of a shaggy dog story; one of those things that get started, meanders about a bit, and finally resolves without much actual participation on my part. But it’s something that doesn’t happen every day – even (especially?) on a cruise ship –so I might as wellContinue reading “Blood Signal”
The Holiday and the Holy Day
Dearest Rachel – Let me get the aside out of the way first, as it’s a matter of mild frustration. I recorded a few comments about the confluence of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, and after shutting off the camera, realized there were so many other things I wanted to say, but couldn’t think ofContinue reading “The Holiday and the Holy Day”
No Ragarts
Dearest Rachel – I’m giving myself just a little more than two hours from check-out at the hotel until my pick up for the cruise port. As I’m scheduled to show up for check-in at two, that gives me 45 minutes to ride those six miles, which may be absurdly too much time to getContinue reading “No Ragarts”
Morning Meanderings and Meals
Dearest Rachel – Morning, and with it, the acknowledgment that this ocean view isn’t all that bad, after all. While you probably already know it from the fact that it’s smokestacks aren’t what you should be looking for, that ship docked across from our hotel is not the one that’s “come in” for me. ThatContinue reading “Morning Meanderings and Meals”
The Pilgrimage
Dearest Rachel – The plane trip was uneventful, which is just the way it’s supposed to be. After touching down at LAX and collecting my bags (they showed up one right after the other, so that was convenient), I concluded that I’d need to summon an Uber to get me to the hotel. It’s a littleContinue reading “The Pilgrimage”
Not So Easily Said
Dearest Rachel – As much as I’m not particularly fond of their attitudes, I have to give the TikTokers their due. Being able to talk straight through everything, without hesitation, without self-consciousness – I’d say it was easier said than done, but the whole point is that it’s not so easily said at all. For me toContinue reading “Not So Easily Said”
Improbable Hand-Me-Downs
Dearest Rachel – I know that, over the past year or so that I’ve combined watching what I eat with a regular pattern of exercising, I’ve managed to get myself down to a reasonable (if not yet necessarily ideal) weight. I’ve shed more than fifty pounds, to the point where I’ve spent the last couple ofContinue reading “Improbable Hand-Me-Downs”
Go Pro Envy
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday found me saying one last goodbye to the gang in the booth, as well as the praise team, over the weekend. As I spend more weekends working the booth than not, it’s going to be weird not doing so for at least thirteen straight weekends. While hanging out in the greenContinue reading “Go Pro Envy”
Sometimes There’s A Reason
Dearest Rachel – There are people who have made their careers making fun of the stupid things that others do, say and, particularly in this case, ask. MAD Magazine’s late Al Jaffee (would you know if he’s up there with you? Would you recognize him if he was?) had his collections of “Snappy Answers to StupidContinue reading “Sometimes There’s A Reason”
Snippets for the Future, Nothing for the Now
Dearest Rachel – One of the problems with spending so much of one’s waking thoughts on a big event in the future is that there’s not much thought being put into what’s going on around one in the present. To be sure, it may well be that most people aren’t trying to document their lives likeContinue reading “Snippets for the Future, Nothing for the Now”
The Last Thing That I Need
Dearest Rachel – I suppose it could be worse; at least this way, I’ve got just enough time to let it run its course before I head out. This morning saw me waking up at about three-thirty to a very unpleasant sensation; not so much for the sensation itself, as what it represented. Lying there, tryingContinue reading “The Last Thing That I Need”
Just Another Clout-Chaser
Dearest Rachel – I wasn’t the one to bring it up to my dad when I visited him yesterday, but I’d already read the news item about the fellow when Dad broached the subject. Not that it should surprise me (although it did, since I assumed that most of the folks there would likely be myContinue reading “Just Another Clout-Chaser”
Publication Jitters
Dearest Rachel – When I first set this website up, and decided to write you daily letters, I found myself having to think long and hard about nearly every word that I wrote down. In fact, the first few letters were almost completely written out in longhand on paper before I ever committed anything to theContinue reading “Publication Jitters”
Accidental Mimosa
Dearest Rachel – There’s a place on the thoroughfare between our house and the folks’ place (as well as the church and the convalescent home Dad’s staying at) called Big Ange’s. It’s an authentic barbecue place, right down to the fact that it’s had its own smoker in the front of their parking lot for theContinue reading “Accidental Mimosa”
Proof of Concept
Dearest Rachel – I’ve concluded that there’s no way that I’m going to be able to tell you everything about my upcoming trip in so many words; pictures are going to be necessary, and perhaps moving pictures even more so. So between one thing and another, I’ve decided to put together short video letters to tellContinue reading “Proof of Concept”
A Future on This Planet
Dearest Rachel – This isn’t exactly breaking news, as far as today or yesterday goes; it’s been gradually getting to this point over time (albeit a relatively brief period of time). But I submit it to you as further proof of Dad’s improvement with regards to his health; when I’m visiting him, he likes toContinue reading “A Future on This Planet”
Getting Things in Order
Dearest Rachel – It’s incredible to realize that only a month ago, we were all gathered at dad‘s bedside while he went over with us where he kept instructions pertaining to his funeral. We really thought – as did he – that he would hang on just long enough to see his way through ChristmasContinue reading “Getting Things in Order”
To Commemorate the Year Gone By
Dearest Rachel – It’s been three years now. You’d think I would know how to deal with these anniversaries by now, but I don’t. And I wonder if I ever will. At this point, it’s gotten to where I’m treating the moment as if it were a second New Year’s, a time to reflect on theContinue reading “To Commemorate the Year Gone By”
Back in the Balcony
Dearest Rachel – It seems like half a lifetime ago (possibly because, when you come down to it, it was) that you and I would find ourselves in the church balcony of a Sunday morning. It wasn’t so much a matter of trying to be inconspicuous (although, when you’re carrying a small baby who mightContinue reading “Back in the Balcony”
The Sign of Jonah
·Evil and sinful people [L An evil/wicked and adulterous generation] ·ask for [seek; demand] a miracle as a sign, but they will not be given any sign, except the sign of Jonah [see 12:40; Jon. 1:17].” Then Jesus left them and went away. Matthew 16:4, Expanded Bible Dearest Rachel – To be sure, when Jesus invoked the name of Jonah, as aContinue reading “The Sign of Jonah”
What the Camera Can’t Catch
Dearest Rachel – I think it was one of the early Torchwood episodes – you’d actually remember it better than I would, since you were the Doctor Who fan of the family – that had a character wear a pair of contact lenses that would essentially livestream what they were seeing to the main groupContinue reading “What the Camera Can’t Catch”
Frozen, Not Forgotten
Dearest Rachel – Forgive me, honey, but I didn’t put out the garbage this week. The thing is, it’s not that I forgot to, as such… …it’s that it wouldn’t have mattered. You’ve heard me tell you several times over the past few days about how it’s been so absurdly cold, right? And of course, up untilContinue reading “Frozen, Not Forgotten”
What Can You Do About the Weather?
Dearest Rachel – I’m pretty sure he wasn’t the first one to say it, but Mark Twain might have at least been responsible for popularizing the saying that “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” To be sure, it isn’t as if there’s a whole lot one can do about it; apartContinue reading “What Can You Do About the Weather?”
On the Same Frostbitten Wavelength
Dearest Rachel – It would seem that, intentionally or not, the gang has (mostly at my insistence) developed something of a habit of getting together at a splashy restaurant on or about the first of the year since you’ve been gone. It hasn’t been the same one each time – indeed, it’s been somewhere different everyContinue reading “On the Same Frostbitten Wavelength”
Backing Away From the Brink
Dearest Rachel – The other day, after our usual walk from Harms Woods to New Trier H.S. and back, Lars and I decided to revisit a place we’d been to once before the holidays. It’s in his neck of the woods, but he’s not ordinarily a fan of what it offers – although in fairness toContinue reading “Backing Away From the Brink”
Still A Long Way From Normal
Dearest Rachel – It occurs to me that you’ll see that title, and assume I’m talking about how I’ve given up traveling downstate to visit your old home (and Twofeathers, who we gave possession of it to in thanks for the care she gave your folks – your mom in particular –in their final years,Continue reading “Still A Long Way From Normal”
Before I Dig Myself A Hole…
Dearest Rachel – And to think, I was going to send you a letter yesterday, griping about how the weather folk had thrown us all into a panic Monday night by claiming we were on the verge of getting hit by a Blizzard (yes, the capitalization is intentional – that’s the kind of storm theyContinue reading “Before I Dig Myself A Hole…”
In Limitations, There Are Strengths
Dearest Rachel – To be honest, honey, this letter is probably more geared for Dad than it is for you. When I left his room yesterday afternoon – because I had to collect Daniel and grab an early dinner before the evening’s Awana club – he insisted that I present him with a full reportContinue reading “In Limitations, There Are Strengths”
Easy On the Envelope
Dearest Rachel – On paper – or on the calendar, anyway – I gave up this weekend; I didn’t manage to fast at all. Both days saw me eating something, despite the fact that, apart from December (because, you know, parties and other holiday get-togethers), I’ve been trying to go without when I’m working the boothContinue reading “Easy On the Envelope”
An Imbalance of Humours
Dearest Rachel – This is something of a delicate topic of discussion, but it is rather the one unusual thing that’s been going on within me – quite literally – the last couple of days, so I’m going to try to tread as carefully as I can in describing the situation. I’m not going toContinue reading “An Imbalance of Humours”
As Long as They’ll Let Me Show Up
Dearest Rachel – My scale didn’t groan when I stepped on it – after all this time, it’s certainly seen (and felt) much worse – but I rather did inwardly to see my highest weight of the year. And yes, I know that’s a ridiculously short span of time, which sounds longer than it is (hadContinue reading “As Long as They’ll Let Me Show Up”
Of Salt Cellars and Selfie Sticks
Dearest Rachel – I realize I’m not the easiest person to shop for, in terms of Christmas presents. It’s even worse when I come up with ideas that are either too late or too esoteric (or both) to hunt down in time. But sometimes, that’s what happens; I come up with an idea long after I should,Continue reading “Of Salt Cellars and Selfie Sticks”
When a Holiday Isn’t
Dearest Rachel – Every so often, I’m struck by the surprising fact that most of our holidays actually still track with the origin of the word – “holy day.” Sure, almost all of them have been secularized and commercialized within an inch of their lives, but many of them still can trace their roots to aContinue reading “When a Holiday Isn’t”
Don’t Make Him Tap the Sign
Dearest Rachel – It’s said that there are no such things as coincidences; only moments in which God decides, for whatever reason, not to sign His name to events. We’ve had a few of them in our time, such as that one major windfall shortly after catching up on our pledges to a certain missionaryContinue reading “Don’t Make Him Tap the Sign”
Exhausted by Everything
Dearest Rachel – For all that Dad insists that he’s “ready to go,” and he’s “so weak,” especially after being put through his paces in terms of exercise, the fact remains that he goes through with them and does them without complaint. Well, without much complaint, anyway; the bedsores on his backside, while slowly diminishing,Continue reading “Exhausted by Everything”
And There Will Be Joy!
Dearest Rachel – I know that it was one of our favorite films, but do you remember the last words of the King of Florin? It’s a fairly obscure line in the midst of a scene that memorable for other reasons, but let me see if I can’t refresh your memory (there’s a lot going onContinue reading “And There Will Be Joy!”
God’s Veto Power
Dearest Rachel – You would have never countenanced it: “Son, when you leave, can you take that out of here? It’s been in the corner for too long already, and I don’t feel like looking at it anymore.” “Okay, sure, Dad; I’ll bring it back to the house.” “No, don’t bring it back to my house.”Continue reading “God’s Veto Power”
Therapeutic Misfire
Dearest Rachel – I’ve referred in the past to shopping as a form of ‘retail therapy,’ although this probably comes as no surprise to you and your girlfriends. At the risk of making some sort of sweeping sexist statement, women have known the value, in terms of mental health applications, of shopping as long as theContinue reading “Therapeutic Misfire”
Last Christmas
Dearest Rachel – To say that this Christmas was different than most would be a blinding understatement. So perhaps I should go into the ‘why’ and ‘how,’ rather than just settling with a single, over-generalized statement like that. After all, if you look closely enough, every day is different from its fellows, so why wouldn’t one ChristmasContinue reading “Last Christmas”
Last-Minute Preparations
Dearest Rachel – As embarrassed as I may be to relate this to you, at least I can take comfort in the fact that you wouldn’t be giving me grief about it, as you were every bit as prone to procrastination (on a regular basis, I might add) as I have been this Christmas season.Continue reading “Last-Minute Preparations”
The Important Out of Focus
Dearest Rachel – Given the situation that’s been more or less dominating our lives for the past two weeks, even overshadowing the Christmas season and its attendant hustle and bustle, you would think that I would have more to say about Dad at this point. If nothing else, I’m pretty sure I’d given you the impressionContinue reading “The Important Out of Focus”
Can’t Fix What You Can’t Find
Dearest Rachel – The Seventh Doctor was probably quoting someone else (actually, many someones else, I’m sure – it’s undoubtably a very common saying, now that I think about it) when he observed that “the difference between comedy and tragedy is a fine one; it’s only a matter of timing.” At the time, he was (characteristically)Continue reading “Can’t Fix What You Can’t Find”
Well, Ain’t This a Crock
Dearest Rachel – Even before you had to go, I’d been known to say that misadventures make for the best stories. They aren’t fun when you’re in the middle of them, but some of the ‘best’ (if you can call them that) ones make for uproarious tales, at least in retrospect. Most of them have to doContinue reading “Well, Ain’t This a Crock”
A Full Dance Card
Dearest Rachel – I was never the type who would have felt comfortable at a cotillion. Not only was dancing long disapproved of by my extended (and church) family – “a vertical expression of a horizontal desire,” it was described as, and given how I’ve often pointed out how my name is frighteningly apt, I wouldn’tContinue reading “A Full Dance Card”
Given the Chair
Dearest Rachel – For dad, progress continues apace. Yesterday morning, for whatever reason, he was uncomfortable with just lying in his bed, and was begging Mom to summon the nurses to help him to sit up, if just for a few minutes. Naturally, we considered this to be wonderful news, although his insistent request seemed aContinue reading “Given the Chair”
The Call in the Middle of the Night
Dearest Rachel – It seems silly to marvel at the accuracy of scripture sometimes. I find myself reminded of some after-dinner speaker who is said to have begun a speech by pompously intoning, “As God said, and I think rightly…” One can only hope he was joking with such a line, but it’s just plausible that itContinue reading “The Call in the Middle of the Night”
On Speaking Terms
Dearest Rachel – It would seem that this morning, my mother – who had gone home last night to actually sleep in her own bed, at the urging of pretty much everyone except possibly Dad himself – got a call at about seven in the morning, after sleeping for some ten hours straight. It was fromContinue reading “On Speaking Terms”
Hope Spot
Dearest Rachel – It’s happening again, honey. He’s gone through a low ebb where it basically looks like only a matter of time. And yes, I realize it’s only “a matter of time” for all of us before we join you and everybody else in the hereafter. You know what I mean – at a certain point, there’sContinue reading “Hope Spot”
Strangely Familiar, and Yet…
Dearest Rachel – Well, honey… here we go again. I can see his skin stretched across his collarbone and rib cage as he lies in his hospital bed. He’s down to skin and bones, but at least his salt and sugar levels are down to normal – or at least considerably more normal than theyContinue reading “Strangely Familiar, and Yet…”
Jumping Into the River
Dearest Rachel – This is one of those titles where the contents actually tie in, but they don’t tie together all that well, so bear with me. It’s an ongoing occupational hazard of having to give a title to each of these letters; I start with an idea, usually based off of current experiences, andContinue reading “Jumping Into the River”
To Fear the Day Ahead
Dearest Rachel – It’s not yet four in the morning; while, being Friday, I have every intention in my mind to head out and exercise, I’m not ready to do so. And it’s not just because the facility won’t be open for an hour an a half, or that I’m dealing with the usual squabblesContinue reading “To Fear the Day Ahead”
When You Hit the Ground Running Too Hard
Dearest Rachel – While I’ve told you a number of times about how my body and mind don’t get along with each other on this subject (if nothing else, my body has insisted that it doesn’t think it’s getting much out of the bargain but aches and pains, to which my mind counters that theContinue reading “When You Hit the Ground Running Too Hard”
For the Last Time
Dearest Rachel – There’s a saying that has made its way around the internet. It doesn’t appear to be a quote, per se; probably because it hasn’t ever been structured in a particularly pithy manner so as to make it properly quotable. But that doesn’t make the sentiment any less poignant. It states that, thereContinue reading “For the Last Time”
The Brits Have a Term for It
Dearest Rachel – More than most people, I’m quite well aware about of how we Yanks and the Brits are “separated by a common language.” On this side of “the pond,” my name is just that – a name – while over there, it’s not used as a name for the very reason that itContinue reading “The Brits Have a Term for It”
The Challenge of Storytelling
Dearest Rachel – It happens so much less often these days – especially during busy seasons, such as the impending Christmas holidays – that you would think I would have plenty to tell you about when the girls come over. But it doesn’t seem to work out that way in practice. To be fair, whileContinue reading “The Challenge of Storytelling”
For the Sake of the Goal
Dearest Rachel – It’s not unprecedented, mind you, but it’s admittedly unseasonal for December to start off in the mid-forties, especially before the sun has risen. It really should be colder out, especially since it’s still dark. I don’t think I’ll even need a jacket as I head off to the gym – which isContinue reading “For the Sake of the Goal”
Prison Planet
Dearest Rachel – There have been moments in our lives where we managed to forget that conflict – well, perhaps I shouldn’t sugarcoat it, and just call it ‘war’ like I ought to – is the natural state of the world collectively, just as sin is the natural state of individual mankind. When we wereContinue reading “Prison Planet”
The Hard Way
Dearest Rachel – To think that I was just telling you yesterday about the beauty of the first snows of winter. That beauty comes at rather a cost, after all, foremost of which is the cold. Already, I find myself challenged as to how heavily to dress for one activity or another – for example,Continue reading “The Hard Way”
It Happens Every Year, But…
Dearest Rachel – I realize that this really doesn’t qualify as the ‘first’ snow of the year; we’d already seen a handful of flakes on Halloween (I’d even taken a picture with them suspended in air, which, to be fair, doesn’t convey the same effect as when you’re standing there with them falling – orContinue reading “It Happens Every Year, But…”
Conspiracy Meeting
Dearest Rachel – Since my body and mind disagree – sometimes vehemently – on how to handle things, I wasn’t invited to last night’s discussion, preoccupied as I was with a handful of more or less forgettable dreams. But I’m assuming there must’ve been some coordination going on, so I’m gonna take my best guessContinue reading “Conspiracy Meeting”
Cheating With Side Dishes
Dearest Rachel – Considering our interpersonal vocabulary, I’ll bet you saw this title and thought the topic might be a little salacious, no? And maybe I’ll touch on that in more detail later on, now that I think about it (or not). But for the moment, bear in mind that today is Thanksgiving, with allContinue reading “Cheating With Side Dishes”
Letters to Rachel 