Dearest Rachel – We’ve had to get out of the house at ridiculously early hours in the past – flights don’t really concern themselves with the schedules of their individual passengers, for instance – so you know I’m capable of getting up early. And, of course, there are the many work days when I’ve beenContinue reading “Who Would Believe It?”
Tag Archives: daily life
Fancy Dress Hero
Dearest Rachel – Like most Monday nights, you would have been all over the theme at Sparks last night, having to do with dressing like your favorite superhero. Indeed, you had more than a few pieces to the puzzle that you would have put together to play the part of the ‘superhero’ you would haveContinue reading “Fancy Dress Hero”
Cleaning vs. Coddling
Dearest Rachel – This is the sort of thing I actually feel silly writing to you about. It’s something that never used to get under my skin, if for no other reason than that it wasn’t mine to necessarily concern myself with. And besides, if I did make a complaint about it, it would justContinue reading “Cleaning vs. Coddling”
Waiting for the House Call
Dearest Rachel – While I may have been a little surprised at his emphatic reaction last year when I’d gone through my first such episode, I kind of understand why Lars refers to this process as a ‘scam,’ even though it’s arranged through our health insurance company and I’m not out of pocket (indeed, I’mContinue reading “Waiting for the House Call”
Seeking Shelter
Dearest Rachel – I’m not sure if you were ever acquainted with the phrase ‘love bombing’; it’s a term I’ve encountered more and more as time goes on, and our time together gets further away, ironically enough. I’m not sure if it’s one of the latest buzzwords in pop psychology, or if it’s just somethingContinue reading “Seeking Shelter”
To See Where I Stand
Dearest Rachel – Well, honey, despite my best efforts to take advantage of as much of the darkness as possible – especially since I wasn’t going to be heading into the ‘office’ today – my day this morning started at six, regardless. It was too late for me to realistically put in my full timeContinue reading “To See Where I Stand”
An Experience Not Meant to Be Shared
Dearest Rachel – There are too many things that I do that are solitary pursuits these days that I wish were not so, but can’t be helped at this point. Back in the day, we would do these things together (and in certain times and cases, we would drag Daniel along in our wake, butContinue reading “An Experience Not Meant to Be Shared”
Green Screen Blues
Dearest Rachel – It was a moment that, in its quickly-discovered-to-be triviality, you would likely have found as amusing as I did, even as I was mildly annoyed at the steps I needed to take to remedy the situation (as well as the time away from what some might consider an addiction – not you,Continue reading “Green Screen Blues”
Ready (Already) For the Weekend
Dearest Rachel – I’ve gotten accustomed to the gym I go to these days to the point where I think I could scribble up the playlist I hear as I walk uphill for an hour. Maybe not completely, and certainly not in order, but there are a number of specific songs I’m guaranteed to hearContinue reading “Ready (Already) For the Weekend”
Could Have Been So Much Worse
Dearest Rachel – You might have noticed that I’ve said very little about my weight or exercise regimen over the past couple of weeks, but you probably haven’t been wondering much about its absence. After all, Daniel and I have been cruising, and you know what it’s like. You were with me on enough ofContinue reading “Could Have Been So Much Worse”
Less of the Same, More of the Usual
Dearest Rachel – The beauty of a morning flight is that, when you arrive, you still have most of the day to ‘enjoy’ the place you’ve landed in. The… dare I say ugliness?… of that same situation on the return trip means that you’re dropped right back into the responsibilities of home that you neglectedContinue reading “Less of the Same, More of the Usual”
Pretending Everything Is Normal
Dearest Rachel – The last few overseas trips I’ve taken have started off with a ride to the airport first thing in the morning, or even in the wee hours, prompting me to wake up absurdly early in order to catch my flight. Not so today; with the flight scheduled for four in the afternoon,Continue reading “Pretending Everything Is Normal”
What Needed to be Done
Dearest Rachel – It’s Monday morning, just like it is every week at this time, and as I reluctantly make my way to the gym, I note to myself that the traffic seems considerably more plentiful and vigorous than it usually does. It may have to do with the fact that I’m not out ofContinue reading “What Needed to be Done”
Compound Interest
Dearest Rachel – I try to avoid talking about specifics regarding our financial situation in these letters, and I’ll try to continue with that today. We don’t know who might be reading over your shoulder, and as I’ve mentioned before, talking about what one makes or owns is a sure-fire way to get someone toContinue reading “Compound Interest”
You Can’t Always Finish The Job
Dearest Rachel – You might recall how last week, when I was struggling (unsuccessfully, as it turned out) to keep from catching whatever it was that Daniel had been dealing with since before the weekend began, I was also trying to remember about a commitment I thought I remembered making, but was unable to recallContinue reading “You Can’t Always Finish The Job”
A Few Hours of Darkness
Dearest Rachel – I’ve written to you about power outages before, and most of them have been short-lived and short-ranged, while still leaving one contemplating about just how dependent we are on electricity for just about everything. This one was a little of both, and a little of neither. For starters, I showed up atContinue reading “A Few Hours of Darkness”
Story Arc
Dearest Rachel – It would amuse me no end for some theorist channel to happen across this sheaf of letters, read a whole bunch of them over your shoulder, and try to make sense out of them as if they were the components of an ARG or an extended literary work. Applying the tropes ofContinue reading “Story Arc”
Bloodshot
Dearest Rachel – You probably remember that when I’m sick, I sneeze at two different volumes. When it’s unrestrained, it’s loud enough to be heard anywhere in the house – and probably for several houses down – and it’s practically yelled out, as if I’d hit my thumb with a hammer or something. More often,Continue reading “Bloodshot”
Ill at Ease
Dearest Rachel – Monday morning, and something just doesn’t feel right. Much as I’m planning to head to the ‘office’ for what should be an ordinary day (with a side request to help the folks deal with “a credit card situation,” which probably just involves an internet communication issue), there’s this sense that I’m forgettingContinue reading “Ill at Ease”
Bags of Bags
Dearest Rachel – So, after being invited to two different backyard events in a single Saturday (and it’s not even a holiday weekend; what gives?), I had to get something to bring to each of them. Now, technically, I didn’t have to go out shopping to do that; the one asked specifically for a dessert,Continue reading “Bags of Bags”
Health Concerns
Dearest Rachel – Normally, when I wake up of a morning, the house (at least, the portion within earshot) is quiet as a tomb. Even the fact that Logan gets up early enough to start his workday doesn’t register with me. Maybe it’s because his upstairs room that he confines himself to during working hoursContinue reading “Health Concerns”
Monday Deferred, But Monday Nonetheless
Dearest Rachel – There are moments when, while I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to check out of the work farce (and I’ll never forget how you put it at the moment; “you’ve supported me for the last twenty-plus years, now it’s my turn to support you.” Not every one, even as aContinue reading “Monday Deferred, But Monday Nonetheless”
Meanwhile, Back Home…
Dearest Rachel – I just stuffed the bags back into the car behind my driver’s seat again this morning. Normally, I’ve got this rotation of two of the many (most of which I either disposed of or gave away) cloth grocery bags you left behind, for when I stop at Aldi – either one, asContinue reading “Meanwhile, Back Home…”
The Silent Treatment
Dearest Rachel – I have to admit, it was something I hadn’t considered about traveling to a place like Honduras, where I don’t have coverage with my phone plan (although maybe it would be wise for me to look into one of those eSIM cards for future travels here and there). For the entirety ofContinue reading “The Silent Treatment”
Rattle Around in Your Bones
Dearest Rachel – I hardly need to refresh your memory that summer is Daniel’s least favorite season. Despite this being common knowledge between us, he will often complain about the heat – and I can’t say as I blame him; it’s at least ten, and possibly as much as twenty degrees hotter up here thanContinue reading “Rattle Around in Your Bones”
Put Through Paces
Dearest Rachel – Not that it’s germane to anything else going on, but I feel the need to send you greetings on this, the fifty-fourth month since your departure. It’s been four and a half years at this point, and more often than not, the twenty-third of the month still gets my attention in aContinue reading “Put Through Paces”
Prince of Peace Corps
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know if you remember the slogan, but I have a vague recollection of the Peace Corps described as “the toughest job you’ll ever love.” It wouldn’t surprise me if Just One was striving to be that kind of job opportunity, even on the limited-time basis as it is for usContinue reading “Prince of Peace Corps”
Once Burned
Dearest Rachel – All too often, when we would bring home a certain local foodstuff from one or another of our travels, it would get lost in the back of the pantry and just go stale or otherwise bad. Sometimes, it would be due to a fear of never be able to have it againContinue reading “Once Burned”
Food at Home
Dearest Rachel – It’s so memetic that there isn’t a single iconic image to represent it; all there is to it is a basic script. Child asks for restaurant food (usually from a low-grade fast-food place – and yes, I know that’s something of a redundancy), to which the mom replies that “we have foodContinue reading “Food at Home”
Sleeping Weather
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday, while I was at the ‘office,’ Logan sent a text to me about there being water on the floor in the basement, both in the utility room and the half-bathroom that rarely ever gets used by any of us. Maybe Daniel was taking a bath upstairs, and he felt the needContinue reading “Sleeping Weather”
His Opinion Matters
Dearest Rachel – I don’t remember who told me this, specifically, but in the immediate aftermath of your departure, I was advised not to make any major rash decisions in my life. No major purchases, no attempts at pursuing ‘Megumi’ (who hadn’t been given that name at that point, let alone had her criteria fleshedContinue reading “His Opinion Matters”
Prime Moment
Dearest Rachel – I have a couple of topics for you sitting in the wings at the moment, but I’ll reserve them for a day when I have less going on, both in terms of the lack of something happening to relate to you and the time to commit them to pixels. This one isContinue reading “Prime Moment”
With No Expectations to Speak Of
Dearest Rachel – After spending Thursday evening wandering around the local Frontier Days festival, you’ll recall that I wasn’t particularly enthused about getting out and about on Independence Day, despite being of the understanding that it’s a once-a-year thing. If I wait until I’m “in the mood” for a fireworks display, there won’t be anyContinue reading “With No Expectations to Speak Of”
The Right to My Day
Dearest Rachel – I don’t think that I’ll ever fully comprehend the ‘gym rat’ mentality – nor, as I’m sure you would expect, do I wish to; to do so would be to become one, and for all the desirable effects, there are more than enough adverse ones, primarily having to do with attitude, thatContinue reading “The Right to My Day”
Sun Tea
Dearest Rachel – When you left, you left us with a kitchen and pantry full of edibles that filled the storage spaces of both places to overflowing and then some. The various foodstuffs were piled so high that certain passages weren’t navigable without taking long, careful high steps (which you weren’t capable of, due toContinue reading “Sun Tea”
Which Saturday is This?
Dearest Rachel – One of the guys in the ‘accountability group’ that I’ve been assigned (I’d say assigned to, but I seem to have wound up in charge of it, whether I wanted to be or not) as part of the Saturday morning Bible study is, among other things, a recent émigré to the retiredContinue reading “Which Saturday is This?”
Queasy
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know what’s been going on the last few days, honey, but every so often – at least, when I bother to think about it – there’s been this nagging sense of unease in the pit of my stomach going on. Now, it’s entirely possible that it’s simply due to anotherContinue reading “Queasy”
To Tell About Our Days
Dearest Rachel – As humans, we have a surprising amount of difficulty explaining to others how we spend our time, and what exactly we do with it. Or maybe it’s just me, which basically illustrates my point. You see, even though we know, intellectually, that it’s not so, we find it hard to imagine thatContinue reading “To Tell About Our Days”
Tell-Tale Feet and the Chocolate Plateau
Dearest Rachel – After telling you about how I ‘cheated’ to get under the two-fifteen line yesterday before I was to go and meet up with Lars yesterday, I didn’t have as much to talk with him about when we started to make our way around the mall. Oh, and by the way, I thinkContinue reading “Tell-Tale Feet and the Chocolate Plateau”
Hate to Disappoint
Dearest Rachel – As happens every week these days, I’m meeting up with Lars to walk for a couple of hours (granted, due to the combination of the recent heat wave and the current threat of rain, we’ll be doing so for the second straight week at the mall over in Rosemont, rather than theContinue reading “Hate to Disappoint”
Returning from the Woods
Dearest Rachel – As she attempts to recover from her unplanned tryst with Prince Charming late in the second half of Into the Woods, the Baker’s Wife sings “back to life, back to home, back to child, back to husband… you can’t live in the woods.” Of course she doesn’t get back to all thoseContinue reading “Returning from the Woods”
Sixteen Hundred Days
Dearest Rachel – It’s been fifty-three months as of today, honey. In that time, I’ve written you well over two thousand letters – actually, over twenty-two hundred or so, in fact – and once this is sent, I’ll have dropped you a line every day for sixteen hundred days straight. Which by the way, meansContinue reading “Sixteen Hundred Days”
Stones for the Squirrel
Dearest Rachel – Some days, there’s just not that much out of the ordinary that’s happening to me personally to tell you about, so I have to rely on the news, or a dream, or just something that comes to mind, to tell you about on a given day. It’s less, in terms of theContinue reading “Stones for the Squirrel”
One Billion Seconds
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned the other day in passing about large numbers like millions and billions, and told you I’d go into more details soon enough. Well, soon enough has arrived – well, in fairness, it’s already come and gone, and I didn’t notice it at the time, but that’s neither here nor there.Continue reading “One Billion Seconds”
Freedom in a Land of Plenty
Dearest Rachel – This morning, I was just heading out from the gym (and having to turn back after passing the office complex behind the strip mall it’s in because I left my cap there; it was bright and sunny when I left, which caused me to forget that I’d worn it in the drizzleContinue reading “Freedom in a Land of Plenty”
Refreshing Inertia
Dearest Rachel – The world outside my door may be speeding by at a ridiculous pace – when I woke up for the first time a couple of hours ago, there were an insane amount of unread articles in my news feed to go through – but that doesn’t mean I have to move atContinue reading “Refreshing Inertia”
A Recursive Change of Subject
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know if it’s annoying or depressing to have – or need – a filter on what I say, but such is life sometimes. There was a conversation yesterday that got me thinking about how the three of us would spend rather a lot of time in companionable silence, apart fromContinue reading “A Recursive Change of Subject”
The Price of Recovery
Dearest Rachel – Well, as much as I may have complained yesterday that it wasn’t instantaneous, my foot certainly feels much better this morning. I can still feel a slight nagging if I try to wiggle my big toe, and there’s a noticeable twinge if I put too much weight on the meaty part ofContinue reading “The Price of Recovery”
Pondering Addiction
Dearest Rachel – It’s said that humans are, as a rule, narcissistic and self-centered, with no innate sense of empathy; whether that’s due to the Fall or something else, anyone is free to make theories about the underlying cause. It dismays me to go through these letters and see all the use of the first-personContinue reading “Pondering Addiction”
Cicadian Rhythms
Dearest Rachel – Often, when I lack a topic to talk with you about first thing in the morning, I try to come up with something to say during my workout (hey, it beats actually working out, truth to tell – and even if I’m actually into the whole ‘pushing weights around’ thing of aContinue reading “Cicadian Rhythms”
Light as (a Ton of) Feathers, Stiff as a Board
Dearest Rachel – Not that you’re dealing with anything like this these days, I’m sure, but did you ever experience something that essentially proved to be the opposite of what you were promised? I think that rather sums up my last night, right down to the dreams therein. I might as well reverse gears forContinue reading “Light as (a Ton of) Feathers, Stiff as a Board”
Of Plumb-bobs and Progress Bars
Dearest Rachel – You probably remember earlier iterations of The Sims much better than I do (even now); while I bought myself a copy of Sims4 a while back, I never really got into it. Heck, I barely bother to play Civilization these days, and I got into that game. I guess there are soContinue reading “Of Plumb-bobs and Progress Bars”
The Cards We Are Dealt
Dearest Rachel – Sometimes, I have several story lines going on at the same time, and start one or two letters to you, hoping I can flesh them out before the situation itself goes stale. Other times, an idea occurs to me that requires me to at least set up the framework before I forgetContinue reading “The Cards We Are Dealt”
Reverse Porch Piracy
Dearest Rachel – There are neighborhoods that have problems with what I understand are referred to as ‘porch pirates,’ and while I can’t imagine that being an issue in a relatively affluent and homogeneous socioeconomic area as ours, I get the driving force behind it. Covetousness is a thing that exists (otherwise, why would thereContinue reading “Reverse Porch Piracy”
Answering the Door
Dearest Rachel – There are times when I think our tendency to answer the door (or the phone, for that matter) when it rings is a mistake born out of politeness. It’s common courtesy to respond to a knock on the door, or a ring of the doorbell; that’s why you have them. But itContinue reading “Answering the Door”
from Rachel: Neither Corrupt Nor Negligent
Earlier in the week, we established the approximate age of Daniel at this point in the storyline. About how old was he? “over 80” Fill in the following blanks: Daniel 6:3 (NIV) tells us he ‘“so distinguished himself” among the administrators and the satraps by his “exceptional qualities” that the king planned to set himContinue reading “from Rachel: Neither Corrupt Nor Negligent”
Off the Digital Wagon
Dearest Rachel – A couple of days ago, I started in on a letter to you about a recent discovery about myself and my reactions to those around me. I’ve gotten maybe a third of the way into it, and every time I re-read what I’ve written, I’m less and less sure if I canContinue reading “Off the Digital Wagon”
Fasting? Here? Now?
Dearest Rachel – Between the cooking and baking and the occasional restaurant visit we’ve made while on the islands, we’ve already built up a considerable stockpile of leftovers on this trip. Combine this with the fact that I packed more than what Daniel and I would have normally eaten on our own throughout a typicalContinue reading “Fasting? Here? Now?”
The Part You Used to Play
Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday was Mothers’ Day; the real one, not the early one we observed last week in order to celebrate with my mom, since we were going to be on the island this week. And with that having been said, I should mention that we made a point to head to theContinue reading “The Part You Used to Play”
Cramping My Schedule
Dearest Rachel – I’ll admit, I had planned to skip my usual weekday workout this morning anyway. Sure, I hadn’t hit the gym all weekend, due to working in the booth – which required a lot more active attention to details than some times, due to the unpredictable nature of baptism weekend – nor didContinue reading “Cramping My Schedule”
News Feed Fire Hose
Dearest Rachel – I had actually started a topic yesterday afternoon that I was going to work on for you for today, but it doesn’t seem like I’m going to arrive at any resolution to it soon enough, what with the weather being sunny today and rainy thereafter until the weekend – which means thatContinue reading “News Feed Fire Hose”
Last One Out
Dearest Rachel – It’s a sight I don’t see very often when I head out to the office in the mornings… No, it’s not the fact that the magnolia tree is still in bloom; like I said the other day, it’s a hardier flowering plant than the sakura trees that Japan is so famous for,Continue reading “Last One Out”
Running Short on Time
Dearest Rachel – Look, I realize that I’ve no justification for complaining about a tight schedule; the last couple of Holy Weeks have seen me not only on vacation, but abroad on cruises. I’ve taken it easy enough times already that I’ve absolutely no right to complain about diminishing down time. And while I mightContinue reading “Running Short on Time”
Not Perfect, but Simple
Dearest Rachel – The house still smells a bit too much like curry for an early morning, but I suppose that’s on me. It’s a pervasive scent, whenever it’s used in cooking; some people find it objectionable, while to others, it’s a way of life. I don’t fall into either of those categories, but ifContinue reading “Not Perfect, but Simple”
Too Early, Too Cold… Too Late?
Dearest Rachel – You won’t believe how early it was when I first wake up. Then again, if you were still here you might not have had to believe it, since we could have been crossing paths (assuming I followed through, in my somnambulant state); you would have seen I was up, and wondered why.Continue reading “Too Early, Too Cold… Too Late?”
Fifty-Seven
Dearest Rachel – Seven and a half years ago, the family gathered at a restaurant after Sunday services (like we often did back then, but this was a fancier place than we’d usually assemble at, since this was a special occasion) to celebrate my parents’ anniversary. For the life of me, I can’t remember whatContinue reading “Fifty-Seven”
Reprieve and Delay
Dearest Rachel – Well, the good news is that it’s not the transmission that’s wrong with my car (or, presumably, yours, were I or Daniel to take it in to get it looked at). The bad news is that all the little things that are wrong with it are going to cost as much asContinue reading “Reprieve and Delay”
When Even the Experts are Stumped
Dearest Rachel – By the end of the day today, it will have been nearly a week since dropping the car off at the dealer’s for what I rather thought would have been fairly routine – if admittedly less regular than just a simple lube, oil and filter – maintenance. Sure, a multi-point inspection wouldContinue reading “When Even the Experts are Stumped”
All the Time in the World?
Dearest Rachel – Daniel has been asking me multiple times throughout the past day whether I’ve heard from the dealership about the status of the work being done on my vehicle. After just a single day of me appropriating his/your car, it would seem that he would like it back. It seems a little weird,Continue reading “All the Time in the World?”
Running Water
Dearest Rachel – And here I thought the most interesting thing I would have to relate to you this morning was the fact that I just received (and was trying out) a couple pairs of cushioned insoles for my gym shoes. This is what happens when I forget about the things that I’ve scheduled weeksContinue reading “Running Water”
Shallow Targets
Dearest Rachel – Some days, I’m at a loss for what to write you because there just isn’t much going on that I haven’t told you about before (or that I can at least put a slightly different spin on, for the sake of offering some amusement). Today is a little different, insofar as IContinue reading “Shallow Targets”
Another Part of the Routine
Dearest Rachel – I’ve mentioned before how, at the moment, I’m best able to come up with (or at least start on) topics to relate to you in between crunch sets at the gym. I’m not sure why; it’s probably from having to do something while I’m catching my breath, and this is as goodContinue reading “Another Part of the Routine”
Competing With Myself
Dearest Rachel – Even though the wind isn’t whistling at its worst this morning, it’s more than sufficient to remind me that spring isn’t quite here yet. What motion the air has in this thirty degree environment is enough for me to feel like my arms are clad in steel wool; even as calm asContinue reading “Competing With Myself”
Willing to Discard
Dearest Rachel – Well, it’s Tuesday, honey, and you know what that means. No, we’re not picking up dinner from Taco Bell; while I didn’t mind the place in the slightest, that was still more your thing than mine or Daniel’s. I’ve probably been there fewer times since you left than I have fingers onContinue reading “Willing to Discard”
A Loose Hold on Time
Dearest Rachel – It’s a good thing that I no longer have to hew to a regular day-to-day schedule, because I keep losing my grip on what little I have of one. Then again, it’s entirely possible that it’s a matter of not clinging to one so tightly that leads to this situation in theContinue reading “A Loose Hold on Time”
Accustomed to the Emptiness
Dearest Rachel – To a certain extent, I think that I’m living the life I expected to when I graduated from college with no one to my name but myself. Much as some folks used to denigrate the university experience as an opportunity for certain females to obtain their “Mrs.” degree (is that still aContinue reading “Accustomed to the Emptiness”
Rid of the Taxman
Dearest Rachel – This should probably be a letter for another two months from now, but it’s at the top of my mind at the moment, so I think I’ll tell you about it today. If nothing else, I’ve been having to do more about it over the last couple of days, so while there’sContinue reading “Rid of the Taxman”
The Luxurious Option
Dearest Rachel – I often used to say, somewhat in jest (but not entirely) that when we got sick, the three of us would wind up dealing with the same amount of cold over different time periods. Whereas I would be essentially incapacitated for a 24-hour period, and Daniel would feel pretty poorly for aContinue reading “The Luxurious Option”
Limits to My Adaptation
Dearest Rachel – Not to brag or anything, but I didn’t expect to be able, let alone willing, to hit the ground running (well, walking uphill really fast, anyway) upon returning from the cruise with Lars. After all, it wasn’t as if I spent any appreciable time in the gym aboard the ship, despite itContinue reading “Limits to My Adaptation”
State of Normalcy
Dearest Rachel – Is it strange that it’s been half a week since getting off the ship before I start telling you anything about life back home? You’d think that there wasn’t anything to talk about here, now that I’ve returned to a state of normalcy. And let’s face it, you wouldn’t be that farContinue reading “State of Normalcy”
I Can Feel It In My Bones
Dearest Rachel – I think there are certain things about life that you don’t – can’t, even – figure out until you reach a certain age. When I was a kid, for instance, it absolutely puzzled me that my grandfather (and later, my father) could fall asleep in his rocker-recliner, despite it being in theContinue reading “I Can Feel It In My Bones”
Cold Cranking
Dearest Rachel – Despite having woken up with a dream in my head, I’m going to write you about the reality of the day. The thing is, my dream was about finding a cache of letters you had written to Junior’s daughters upon being asked to be their godmother, which I know never happened. Oh,Continue reading “Cold Cranking”
Solved in an Instant
Dearest Rachel – Well, it’s not as if it’s the most interesting that could be told, but it’s pretty much the only storyline that’s been going on around me for the last couple of days, so it will have to do; the conclusion (maybe?) to the whole saga of me getting myself basically locked inContinue reading “Solved in an Instant”
Frozen in Place
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a while, but it’s it’s not as if this hasn’t happened before of a winter morning. Yesterday, after texting the folks that I was on my way (and pleased with myself at getting closer to nine o’clock every day for the past week), I got in the car, turned theContinue reading “Frozen in Place”
Dusting Upon Dusting
Dearest Rachel – Supposedly, it’s that time of the year; when the snow falls in such great quantities that it piles up chest-high on either side of the road, especially on the driveways once they’ve been shoveled clear (or at least, mostly clear – one can never quite get all the way down to theContinue reading “Dusting Upon Dusting”
The Lethargy of the Cold
Dearest Rachel – What is it about Beach Night at Sparks that causes it to always be on the coldest night of the year? To be sure, it’s usually scheduled like this in the middle of January – presumably because, like that song about needing a little Christmas, everyone needs a little of the tropicsContinue reading “The Lethargy of the Cold”
When the Whim Becomes Expected
Dearest Rachel – These days, when I head home from the men’s Bible study each week, it seems like I can’t help but stop by the ‘other’ smoothie place on my way. Not for myself, mind you, although I don’t have the aversion to them I used to think I had. No, I stop byContinue reading “When the Whim Becomes Expected”
Cause and Effect?
Dearest Rachel – I know I’ve touched on the subject even since the new year began; for all I know, you’re tired of hearing about it. But as it’s a long-term goal that will take several years yet to fully accomplish (let alone what reaching what this goal is meant to result in), you’ll justContinue reading “Cause and Effect?”
Two Lines to Cross
Dearest Rachel – It was light when I woke up this morning, which astonished me, since I’d retired for the night at what you would have remembered as a traditional weekday bedtime of a little after 10:30. Yes, I was in bed before the ball dropped in Times Square, let alone midnight here in theContinue reading “Two Lines to Cross”
For Me, It’s Just Tuesday
For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday. M. Bison (Raul Julia), Street Fighter (1994) Dearest Rachel – So this is it; the last day of 2024. Certain businesses (like my old office) are closed, while other places (like most restaurants)Continue reading “For Me, It’s Just Tuesday”
Inertia
Dearest Rachel – The presents are bought, yes, and they have been for a week or two already. But they’ve been sitting by (or on) my bed unwrapped all this time. I could argue that I’m still waiting for the last shipment to come in, but at this point, I’ve lost track as to whetherContinue reading “Inertia”
Intermittent Sleep
Dearest Rachel – It’s December, so it should be permissible to speak of Christmassy things now. Despite not getting out over the Black Friday portion of the holiday weekend, I’ve gotten a reasonable amount of gift shopping under my belt – although in fairness, the real challenge, our son Daniel, I’ve not yet started on;Continue reading “Intermittent Sleep”
Get Yo’ Ankles Broke!
Dearest Rachel – With Kris’ help this past Monday, I swapped out the bedding (I think I mentioned how queen size sheets don’t seem to fit anymore – I may need to either ask for king size ones for Christmas, or get some for myself at some point thereafter; I hear January is good forContinue reading “Get Yo’ Ankles Broke!”
Taking the Chariot
Dearest Rachel – Setting aside the whole process of building up my initial motivation every morning – which basically consists of stepping on the scale and realizing I’m back over a line I’d just as soon put in my rear view mirror – my workout routine has basically become a matter of ascertaining and pushingContinue reading “Taking the Chariot”
Working From Home
Dearest Rachel – Were I still gainfully employed, and deriving my living from so being, this would be a debilitating quirk of mine, this insistence that I be at home when Kris comes over to clean the house. It’s not out of any desire to supervise her or her work; even if she didn’t alreadyContinue reading “Working From Home”
Shaking Up the Schedule
Dearest Rachel – They say (and no, I’ve never quite managed to figure out who “they” are, these legendary arbiters of both the status quo and nearly every form of advice to shake it up. They’re clearly a contradictory bunch; maybe I wouldn’t want to meet them, much as any larger-than-life figure would be aContinue reading “Shaking Up the Schedule”
The Cold Shock That Shouldn’t Be
Dearest Rachel – Between the fact that I spent the better part of an hour refusing to concede that I had bobbed to consciousness for the day, and the actual time I took collecting and arranging myself to walk the (now officially measured) third of a mile to the fitness center this morning, you’d thinkContinue reading “The Cold Shock That Shouldn’t Be”
The Illusion of Choice
Dearest Rachel – In light of my current understanding of the process, I’ve resolved (if that’s the right word for it) to try to come up with a new T-shirt design at least once a week – and involve Daniel (and maybe Logan) in the process, in order to determine the ‘right’ image for eachContinue reading “The Illusion of Choice”
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”
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”
Letters to Rachel 