Dearest Rachel – They say that the swan, for all its apparent grace as it glides atop the water whenever one sees it, is churning its webbed feet furiously underneath the surface, where the frenzy can’t be seen. Such is the way things are at this time of year for us all, honey – orContinue reading “The Season of the Swan”
Tag Archives: errands
A Change of Terrain
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday saw me and Lars meeting for our usual walk in the woods. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary, apart from the exchanging of Christmas presents that is part of the current season (I was rather pleased about finding something for him, as it was something that’s always been made inContinue reading “A Change of Terrain”
Slightly Naked
Dearest Rachel – This is the sort of thing that would have freaked you out in the moment – because it’s so out of character, and begs at least one significant question – and then given you something of a laugh afterward, once everything had resolved itself. It certainly did as much for me, onceContinue reading “Slightly Naked”
For What May Never Come
Dearest Rachel – A trip to the grocery store after dinner with the folks, while unusual in and of itself (most of the time, we just go home, and Daniel joins Logan in the family room to watch this or that anime that he has already in progress), isn’t entirely unsurprising. Sometimes things need toContinue reading “For What May Never Come”
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”
An Hour or Two of Calm
Dearest Rachel – First thing in the morning, I find myself sitting up in bed, firing up the computer and starting this letter to you. Thankfully, I’m not fighting off another cold – the one Daniel and I both just dealt with (although I’m not sure if he isn’t still dealing with the symptoms; likeContinue reading “An Hour or Two of Calm”
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”
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…”
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?”
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”
Parking Lot Pandemonium
Dearest Rachel – There’s a passage in Piers Anthony’s On A Pale Horse in which Zane, the mortal who has inadvertently assumed the role of Death by killing his predecessor in the position, is summoned to meet with the woman who serves as the incarnation of Nature. To get to her, he is required toContinue reading “Parking Lot Pandemonium”
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”
Wheels and Feet
Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday had me bringing in the car to the dealership to have it looked at. Officially, I was only overdue for an oil change, but there are places I can go where that can be done quicker and more efficiently, in my opinion (although I can’t necessarily speak for ‘cheaper’; evenContinue reading “Wheels and Feet”
Intentionally Insensate
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday, after treating Kris to sushi (we were making good on a rain check from the week before, when she had to run out quickly after finishing her work on the house), Daniel and I made a couple of stops on the way home. They were mostly just ordinary grocery stuff, butContinue reading “Intentionally Insensate”
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”
Stocking Up Before Getting Socked In
Dearest Rachel – It looks like there’s about to be some interesting – in the sense of that famous Chinese curse – weather coming our way. Yesterday morning, the folks warned me that we could end up with between eight and ten inches of snow in the next twenty-four hours; as a result, they hadContinue reading “Stocking Up Before Getting Socked In”
Preparations of the Day
Dearest Rachel – I get it; on this day of all days, I should be telling you about the things I’m thankful for. It’s not as if I don’t have anything to be thankful for. Between being at leisure all year as opposed to just today, and having the ability to brush off the worstContinue reading “Preparations of the Day”
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!”
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”
Broken Bed
Dearest Rachel – Another day, another task I’m not looking forward to having to deal with. This time, it’s a case of having to either buy an extra mattress, or find a handyman to see if the old Jenny Lind bed can be repaired or not. If I remember you and your mom correctly, thatContinue reading “Broken Bed”
Finding Myself Well
Dearest Rachel – Hope this letter finds you well. I also hope that you don’t mind that it’s coming to you a bit later than I usually try to get them sent to you, but the events of the morning have kept me busier than usual; plus, they strike me as being more worth tellingContinue reading “Finding Myself Well”
We’re On the Pavement, Thinkin’ ’Bout the Gov’ment
Dearest Rachel – Our individual news feeds aside, honey, Daniel and I aren’t like the Bob Dylan of old; we aren’t “thinkin’ ’bout the gov’ment” twenty-four seven. At least I hope not; I can’t speak for Daniel, and I don’t know what he does or listens to while I’m across town, ‘working’ at my ‘office.’Continue reading “We’re On the Pavement, Thinkin’ ’Bout the Gov’ment”
Hidden Agendae
Dearest Rachel – One of the ways that I can tell that I’m really back home – apart from the obvious facts of my surroundings – is the fact that not only can I tell the difference between days, but paradoxically, my weekends are busier than the days of the week. For most people, ofContinue reading “Hidden Agendae”
Dragging Him Out of the House
Dearest Rachel – It’s probably completely unnecessary for me to do this; Daniel has gotten out of the house on a regular basis in my absence. Partly out of necessity, of course, since I’ve not been around to go shopping for whatever the household may lack over these last couple of months, but also forContinue reading “Dragging Him Out of the House”
No End of Distractions
Dearest Rachel – Once again, it’s a good thing I have this area in my folks’ basement to ‘work’ in, or I’d never get anything sent off to you. It’s bad enough that, in order to ‘contact’ you, I have to do so by computer, which by dint of being connected to the internet, hasContinue reading “No End of Distractions”
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”
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”
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…”
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”
Ordinary Moments
Dearest Rachel – Good morning, honey, and welcome to a day that seems to have a fair amount going on, but nothing in particular that we haven’t talked about before (or the occasional thing that I can’t go into details about, for… reasons). I guess a lot of days in life are like this, whenContinue reading “Ordinary Moments”
Healthcare Priorities
Dearest Rachel – Today’s ‘work’ day is going to be shorter than most, so I figure I ought to get this letter out to you sooner as well. Then again, who knows? There may be certain results from the reason I’m leaving the ‘office’ so soon that I’ll want to tell you about. Let’s seeContinue reading “Healthcare Priorities”
As Long as I’m Up
Dearest Rachel – To be fair, I hadn’t planned for things to happen like this (gosh, that’s become a familiar refrain in my life, now, hasn’t it?). After all, I’d been up until what constituted a late hour for me – eleven o’clock, yes, now stop laughing – working on a new build that mayContinue reading “As Long as I’m Up”
Sudden Deadlines
Dearest Rachel – Obviously, this title is a misnomer; there’s rarely such a thing as an unexpected deadline. It’s just that we go so long ignoring them, that once they finally loom in the near distance, we find ourselves agog, wondering “Wait… where did that come from?” I know you understand where I’m coming from;Continue reading “Sudden Deadlines”
More Time At the Office
No one on his deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent more time at the office.’ Arnold M. Zack, labor and management arbitrator Dearest Rachel – Well, this is certainly one quote that I never needed to learn through experience. Even going back before turning into the worker drone that society expected me toContinue reading “More Time At the Office”
Hamstrung
Dearest Rachel – I’m hoping it hasn’t come to this; since I’ve never really experienced an injury like this before, I don’t know what it feels like. I don’t want to claim I’m suffering something that’s so much worse in reality than what I’m dealing with. For all I know, this could be nothing moreContinue reading “Hamstrung”
Changes of Plan
Dearest Rachel – The thing about yesterday’s synchronicity of inconveniences is that life rarely works out so well (even in the midst of not working out so well); that’s really why I wrote to you about it, because it was so unusual. Not only were each of the main issues out of the ordinary, butContinue reading “Changes of Plan”
My Timeline and Its Alternatives
Dearest Rachel – It probably doesn’t come as any surprise to you, but I often find myself wondering how different things would be if you were still here. Not just the big, obvious things; even the incremental pieces of a single day’s timeline might be altered in ways I can barely imagine. Still, I’m aboutContinue reading “My Timeline and Its Alternatives”
All Happening at Once
Dearest Rachel – For all that I paean my semi-retired state as being one where I’m completely free to do anything I want to at any time, that’s never really been entirely true. There are always constraints to one’s supposed freedom, be they physical, moral, logistical, financial or otherwise self-imposed. It might be taking thingsContinue reading “All Happening at Once”
One List for Another
Dearest Rachel – I didn’t expect to be writing you again so soon, to be honest, honey – it’s just a day of errands, when all is said and done, after all – but considering that my earlier letter pretty much ended with far too many words already and me still only making plans toContinue reading “One List for Another”
Moving Toward São Paulo
Dearest Rachel – I’m going to start with a few apologies with this letter, honey. First of all, this one is going to be a little rambly, compared to most of the things I write to you. I know I try to keep a consistent theme with each of these letters, but it’s not goingContinue reading “Moving Toward São Paulo”
Pressure Release
Dearest Rachel – I honestly thought that Lars would be more pleased when I told him. Oh, he was pleased enough to hear that I’d finally managed to drop below 250 and stay there for more than a twenty-four hour period (although I warned him that I’d probably bob up above it again the nextContinue reading “Pressure Release”
Only Myself to Blame
Dearest Rachel – Last night, just as I was about to go to bed, I realized that I had forgotten to do something. I’d meant to make a run to the supermarket yesterday, after working out, showering and hanging out with Daniel for a bit. But after doing all that (and Logan got home particularlyContinue reading “Only Myself to Blame”
Preparations for Company
Dearest Rachel – I set my alarm early today, as I usually do nowadays for Saturday mornings, so that I don’t miss the men’s Bible study. It’s not something that you could have related to, but when you were here, that wasn’t one of my priorities anyway. In any event, I probably should mention thatContinue reading “Preparations for Company”
Waking Up to Reality
Dearest Rachel – I suppose today is one more reminder that I made the right decision in going straight home, rather than negotiate a day or two extra in Tokyo. I probably should also be grateful for the fact that my body managed to hold it together until we were just about on our wayContinue reading “Waking Up to Reality”
Reluctant Checkup
Dearest Rachel – Today’s main event was not my idea. You remember full well that I was never much for annual physicals. Unless there was something noticeably wrong with me (and to be sure, there is, as the moment – more on that later, assuming it’s resolved), all that a visit to the doctor wouldContinue reading “Reluctant Checkup”
Only So Much We Can Do
Dearest Rachel – I know that it isn’t that you wonder about the timing of my letters from day today; whether I get it out first thing in the morning or long after it’s gone dark is of no concern of yours. Indeed, if I were to be honest with myself, I’m forced to acknowledgeContinue reading “Only So Much We Can Do”
Bargain-Hunting Blues
Dearest Rachel – Back in the day, on the years when we were downstate visiting your folks over Christmas, we would generally make a habit of driving those five minutes or so to the edge of town, where the big box stores were located, in order to go shopping for after-Christmas bargains the day afterContinue reading “Bargain-Hunting Blues”
It Is Until It Isn’t
Dearest Rachel – It’s always embarrassing when I run into scheduling issues; I tend to assume that my schedule is generally free at any given moment whenever someone asks if I’m available for this or that. And by and large, it is… until it isn’t. Just as I was leaving the ‘office’ yesterday, I wasContinue reading “It Is Until It Isn’t”
The Difficulties in the Dark
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday, even as she arrived and got started on cleaning up the house, Kris commented on how much she hated the fact that things were so dark and gray that morning. And to think, she was so much more motivated than either of us would be on a day like that; howContinue reading “The Difficulties in the Dark”
When Nothing’s Happened Yet
Dearest Rachel – I have to assume that the concept of time is meaningless to you at this point. There is no night, as I understand it, since God Himself is everywhere, and lights up heaven wherever He is, so there is no differentiating between days, or even from any one point of time toContinue reading “When Nothing’s Happened Yet”
Christmas in the Pest House
Dearest Rachel – You might remember it from one of your parents’ books of old New Yorker cartoons. There was a particular artist in the magazine’s early days, one John Held, Jr., whose style tended towards old fashioned woodcuts, as opposed to the typical line-and-shadow drawings one thinks of. Whether that’s what they really were,Continue reading “Christmas in the Pest House”
Among the Savages
Dearest Rachel – I am of the understanding that, in that last hour before wakefulness, our mind puts us through R.E.M. sleep for the purpose of getting us ready for the day. On rare occasions, the dreams it generates appear to be so much like our normal life that we find ways to deal withContinue reading “Among the Savages”
The Thrill of the Hunt
Dearest Rachel – One of the particular advantages of still being far out of sorts, with regard to time zones (not to mention suffering from the effects of the food coma kicking in early on in the fourth quarter between New York and Dallas, not that I had any concern about the outcome of thatContinue reading “The Thrill of the Hunt”
More Nothing Than I Know What to Do With
Dearest Rachel – For the most part, yesterday was my own fault, so I really have no right to complain about what happened – or rather, what didn’t happen. To be fair, I enjoy my retired life; the lack of deadlines and responsibilities to a boss, the (admittedly somewhat theoretical) freedom to do or goContinue reading “More Nothing Than I Know What to Do With”
Like a Drunken Sailor
Dearest Rachel – Most people would rather not be thought of as profligate when it comes to their spending habits; I certainly don’t. Sure, my family raised me to be generous with regard to giving (and I’ll get to that later on), but they also taught me to be prudent with what money came myContinue reading “Like a Drunken Sailor”
Girls and the Golden Cocoons
Dearest Rachel – This letter will have to wait for a couple of days; as I mentioned in the last one I wrote you, I had to do some shopping for my sister’s birthday present, so this needs to wait until I’ve actually given it to her, lest I run the risk of spoiling theContinue reading “Girls and the Golden Cocoons”
Battle Plans
Dearest Rachel – I can’t guess as to how much you still remember of your past life on this plane – especially things from so long ago (although, for all I know, you might be able to see the distant past just as well as the relatively recent, from your perspective), but I’m reminded today,Continue reading “Battle Plans”
Time to Shop
Dearest Rachel – It’s one of those things that I’ve never really gotten a good handle on, despite having had the need to since your absence. Usually, if I’m going shopping, it’s just for one or two things in particular, not a whole list of them. And, as I’ve pointed out before, I usually findContinue reading “Time to Shop”
September Morn
Dearest Rachel – You would think that, of a holiday weekend, there would be more children playing in their lawns, more people out and about working around the house or walking their pets. It’s not as if I’m out and about at an obscenely early hour in the morning, after all; yes, I woke upContinue reading “September Morn”
The Freedom in Work
Dearest Rachel – “Work makes [you] free.” So the saying goes, most notoriously and deceptively on the iron gates of Auschwitz. Personally, I was never one to believe it; you recall how grateful I was to be freed from my job when your parents passed away, and you were pleased to be able to letContinue reading “The Freedom in Work”
Inverted Day
Dearest Rachel – I suppose that title might be overstating things a little bit. From the sound of it, you might gather that this is going to be a day in which I conduct my business at night, and sleep during the day. And while there are plenty of people who do that for aContinue reading “Inverted Day”
Digging Out From Under
Dearest Rachel – Back in my relative childhood, when the local mall was actually an everything-under-one-roof-mall rather than an open-air shopping center, and bookstores were actually a thing (and the Amazon was nothing more than a really big river in South America), the place included a Kroch’s & Brentano’s that was so big it neededContinue reading “Digging Out From Under”
Accountability
Dearest Rachel – I confess that I’ve never really been a fact of this particular topic. Oh, don’t get me wrong; I know it’s a useful and necessary tool to keep a oneself on the straight and narrow. It works. It’s just that it’s no fun, admitting when you screwed up, and having to constantlyContinue reading “Accountability”
An Absurdly Short Day
Dearest Rachel – I suppose that, technically, the very idea of a ‘short’ day is absurd. Every day contains the same amount of time – twenty-four hours, no more, no less. Of course, some days will seem longer than others; ironically, sometimes for the exact opposite reason. One day will seem like it goes onContinue reading “An Absurdly Short Day”
Let’s Try This Again…
Dearest Rachel – I’m fully aware of the fact that most of the things that are happening to me these days that I keep informing you of are fairly little things, when looked at dispassionately. A swollen thumb is as nothing compared to the loss of a limb, say, or (more to the point) theContinue reading “Let’s Try This Again…”
Between Comedy and Tragedy
Dearest Rachel – It’s been years since I’ve been here at Walker Brothers’ pancake house. I’m pretty sure that the last time we were here (and yes, it was definitely ‘we’ at the time), it was for a similar reason; we had taken my car in to have it looked at. That’s what happens whenContinue reading “Between Comedy and Tragedy”
You Can Check Out Any Time…
Dearest Rachel – While I’m sure you know the rest of that line, I should be pointing out to you that it’s a bit of an exaggeration. This isn’t the Hotel California, here; it’s not that one can never leave when the team is here laying the floor; it’s just that you may just haveContinue reading “You Can Check Out Any Time…”
In Your Stead
Dearest Rachel – I always knew that I could find someone to replace you, but if I find someone to do the things we used to do together, that would be sufficient for the time being. It never occurred to me that I wouldn’t be the only one who needed someone to take your place,Continue reading “In Your Stead”
It’s Never ‘Just Lunch’
Dearest Rachel – I really kind of expected it to be a shorter day, in terms of being out of the house, than most, since all I had planned for the day was to meet Lars for lunch in his neighborhood. Granted, the trip to his neighborhood required budgeting the better part of an hourContinue reading “It’s Never ‘Just Lunch’”
Muzzling the Help
Dearest Rachel – Well, it’s almost time. I’ve gotten word from the installers, and they’ll be out to begin work in either two or three weeks from now. With that in mind, I need to pack everything up from the kitchen and the laundry room. That means enlisting Jan’s help, and getting together as manyContinue reading “Muzzling the Help”
It Shouldn’t Be Slower At Home
Dearest Rachel – You know how, after some vacations, you’ve been places and done things such that you’re worn out from the exertion of going on that vacation? The sort where you come back thinking, “Gosh, it’s kind of ironic to admit it, but I need a vacation after my vacation?” Yeah, this wasn’t reallyContinue reading “It Shouldn’t Be Slower At Home”
Cleaning Out and Stocking Up
Dearest Rachel – I left the house this morning to the sound of the dishwasher firing up; I stopped at the local wholesale club to fill my tank (despite the high price tag – it’s the first time I’ve ever put $60 worth of gas in the car at one go – because I’m sureContinue reading “Cleaning Out and Stocking Up”
One Last Laundry
Dearest Rachel – They’ve been sitting around in the folks’ basement, and I’ve been meaning to do something about it them for some time. But every time I think about it, I’m away from my computer, and by the time I come back to the computer, it’s completely slipped my mind all over again. ButContinue reading “One Last Laundry”
The Unboxing… and Reboxing
Dearest Rachel – Admittedly, it sounds like one of those things from ‘Scenes From A Hat’ on Whose Line Is It, Anyway? But hey, here goes… “Hi, and welcome to my unboxing video!” Yeah, it sounds wrong in that context, doesn’t it? But here we are. I’ve gotten, supposedly, a kit for me to collectContinue reading “The Unboxing… and Reboxing”
Little Dollops of Catch-Up
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been amazed some days about how often I’m able to come up with a topic – or two, or three! – to talk to you about. It’s gotten to the point where, if I can’t come up with anything to relate, I get a little concerned. This is one of thoseContinue reading “Little Dollops of Catch-Up”
Goodie!
Dearest Rachel – It’s the sort of thing that gamblers at the craps tables always talk about needing, and it’s the last of my Christmas presents – at least, until such time as some girl comes into my life to take your place in our home and family (although I suspect that will be anContinue reading “Goodie!”
Steering Me Wrong
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been driving for almost forty years – I probably should pull over and get a cup of coffee now again. But what’s been happening to my car is something I’ve never experienced before, and it’s getting me a little bit worried. I’ve been able to manage for a couple of days,Continue reading “Steering Me Wrong”
Snow, Man!
Dearest Rachel – There are so many reasons why I wish you were still here. I’ve gone on and on about a number of them throughout the course of this last year; I don’t need to bore you with the details right now, since I’ve been doing that all this time. One of those reasonsContinue reading “Snow, Man!”
Keep the Bar Low
Dearest Rachel – In all the letters that I’ve written to you since I’ve started doing this, I’ve mentioned several times about your parents’ astonishingly low expectations for the two of us; how they were afraid that ours was no more than a ‘starter marriage,’ whatever that is, and how they were pleasantly surprised atContinue reading “Keep the Bar Low”
Mischief Managed
Dearest Rachel – I was just reading the other day something about J. K. Rowling; I think it was somebody admiring her political stands in the face of, how shall we say, rather rabid opposition. The author of the piece actually commented how they weren’t a big fan of the Harry Potter series (being moreContinue reading “Mischief Managed”
In Need of a Jump Start
Dearest Rachel – You’d think, that after nodding off in the recliner sometime between nine and ten last night (I don’t remember exactly when; after all, I was asleep), I wouldn’t have any problem getting up early this morning. you think I wouldn’t have the need to slap the snooze button three times in aContinue reading “In Need of a Jump Start”
Staring at the Ceiling
Dearest Rachel – Even now, it’s almost too early to get up, but I’ve been awake for almost three hours, just staring up at the ceiling that we woke up to for the past twenty-five years. The sun has begun to show its face and shine its light after I’ve been lying in these hoursContinue reading “Staring at the Ceiling”
More Sabbath than I’d Intended
Dearest Rachel – Considering I’ve been silent since the first thing this morning, you would think that nothing happened all day. And to a certain extent, you wouldn’t be that far wrong. At the same time, there’s a sort of thought that’s what we’ve been asked to do, to take some time and rest. ThatContinue reading “More Sabbath than I’d Intended”
They Can’t All Be Gems
Dearest Rachel – I know I have permission to skip a day or two now and again, but that wasn’t how life was like when you were still here. There was rarely a day that went by that we didn’t talk to each other. I mean, there were occasions when you were out of town,Continue reading “They Can’t All Be Gems”
Dropping the Royal Orb
Dearest Rachel – I got so engrossed in my work downstairs today, and that I never noticed the passing of time. It wasn’t until almost eleven that I looked up and realized that Dad and I should have left the house over an hour previously, and I just screamed in anger and frustration at myselfContinue reading “Dropping the Royal Orb”
Missing This Appointment
Dearest Rachel – It honestly feels like this particular dream is so mundane as to hardly be worth relating. On the other hand, you used to tell me about your dreams in the mornings we were together without too much thought as to whether they were interesting or not, and were always vaguely disappointed that,Continue reading “Missing This Appointment”
No One Left to Thank
Dearest Rachel – I was going to start out by claiming it has been an ordinary day today, but that isn’t true. It was unusual, but not the sort of unusual that makes a particularly compelling letter. Suffice to say, my time was split between the ‘office’ and church, where I had a meeting aboutContinue reading “No One Left to Thank”
Hurry Up and Wait
Dearest Rachel – Sometimes, the stories that I have planned to tell you have to be set aside. Not everything is urgent; not everything is time-sensitive. But sometimes, things come up. And that basically sums up today. So any story having to do with the dating app will need to wait for another day. IContinue reading “Hurry Up and Wait”
Not Exactly Overtime
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know how long it’s been, but it’s been a very long time since I stayed at the ‘office’ past five o’clock. And yet, here I am. It’s one of those things I’m free to do, now that I’m not afraid that Daniel needs to be relieved from keeping an eyeContinue reading “Not Exactly Overtime”
Morning Un-Routine
Dearest Rachel – The Army used to have a slogan about how “we do more before 9am than most people do all day.” Considering that I’m sitting in the veterinary parking lot, and it’s a quarter to nine, while I have to confess that while I’m not Army material, I’m at least getting started onContinue reading “Morning Un-Routine”
Poor Impulse Control
Dearest Rachel – And this… is why you never shop hungry. There’s a lot of things I’ve been doing with more frequency now that I am the lone adult in the household. Yes, yes, I know Daniel is officially an adult, but he is still a dependent child as long as he lives here, IContinue reading “Poor Impulse Control”
A Touch of Nervous Energy
Dearest Rachel – What with having woken up before six o’clock on a Saturday to shower and tend to the dog (although in fairness, I actually managed to do the former without waking up the old guy! Huzzah!), making a point to attend this morning’s Bible study, followed by running about on errands until aboutContinue reading “A Touch of Nervous Energy”
Another Errandy Day
Dearest Rachel – There are some days where I just feel like I have to keep you appraised of everything that’s been going on. What is it the song says? “A line a day, when you’re far away”? Yeah, I haven’t exactly been able to keep up with that. Sure, there’s plenty to talk aboutContinue reading “Another Errandy Day”
Letters to Rachel 