Dearest Rachel – I can’t remember if you were still around at the time – some things feel like they happened so long ago, but given our circumstances, I can’t prove to myself they were that long ago anymore – but at some point, my folks got rid of their old snowblower for a smallerContinue reading “Still Doing it the Old-Fashioned Way”
Tag Archives: gifts
The Questions That Go Unasked
Dearest Rachel – This morning – although when it’s this dark, if feels strange to call it such, even if this is just the way things are in the winter – as I got up and braced myself to head out to the gym, it occurred to me that the folks didn’t bother to askContinue reading “The Questions That Go Unasked”
The Lists We Still Need to Deal With
Dearest Rachel – Well, it’s just how things work in the American holiday calendar, I suppose. We no sooner get through with one that, by name and nature, reminds us to be both content and grateful for what we have, than we begin on the one whose whole purpose seems to be the diametric oppositeContinue reading “The Lists We Still Need to Deal With”
The List We All Need To Make
Dearest Rachel – I don’t really need to tell you about all this, since I already did at the time (and basically in the moment – which means that the story I related over the course of several letters may have been clouded by my emotions at the time, for obvious reasons), but during thatContinue reading “The List We All Need To Make”
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”
He’s Not Santa Claus
Dearest Rachel – In so many ways, it was the sort of Christmas anyone could ask for. A quiet, subdued one, to be sure, but our family hasn’t had little kids running around tearing up the place for the better part of a decade. We all ate way too much (well, except for Dad, andContinue reading “He’s Not Santa Claus”
It Never Evens Out
Dearest Rachel – This would probably come as no surprise to you – although I don’t think I ever managed to establish a routine while you were around, what with post-retirement travel plans, the subsequent quarantine, and so forth – but I don’t ever spend an entire day at the ‘office’ since retiring from theContinue reading “It Never Evens Out”
That One Person to Shop For
Dearest Rachel – It’s just under two weeks before Christmas, and for the most part, I’m feeling pretty good about having everyone on my gift list taken care of, or at least under control, as there’s one purchase I’m waiting on until the last minute, for the sake of freshness. However, in the midst ofContinue reading “That One Person to Shop For”
We Don’t Do Black Friday Anymore
Dearest Rachel – One of the holiday traditions that we’ve dispensed with now that you’re gone is that of hitting the stores for their Black Friday deals. You would go through the newspaper and the various mailings after Thanksgiving dinner, trying to ascertain if any of their offerings would meet the needs of the ChristmasContinue reading “We Don’t Do Black Friday Anymore”
For the Ones Who Have…
Dearest Rachel – There are plenty of luxury items that bill themselves as gift possibilities “for the man (or woman) who has everything.” Heck, there are entire shopping locales that are built to hawk such wares, most of which strike me as being geared for those with more money than sense, in my humble opinion.Continue reading “For the Ones Who Have…”
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”
Ice Cream Anniversary
Dearest Rachel – Well… happy anniversary, honey. This is the third one I’ve had to live through without you, and while it doesn’t really get any easier, there’s this feeling like I’m slowly getting inured to the sensation. Of course, I can guarantee that I’m never going to forget the date, coming as it doesContinue reading “Ice Cream Anniversary”
You Have to Make the ‘Wrong’ Choice
How Was I to Know? Dearest Rachel – I know that Doc used to read these letters to you from time to time; I wonder what he would think about the fact that he’s getting mentioned twice in two days, especially considering that we’re pretty much on the opposite point of the calendar from conventionContinue reading “You Have to Make the ‘Wrong’ Choice”
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”
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”
This Was Different
Dearest Rachel – We’ve had mysterious visitations at our house from time to time since your passing. Some of them were serendipitous, like the balloon on my birthday. Some were deliberate, but anonymous, like the last couple of May Days. And then there was this: This was left on our doorstep yesterday afternoon. Someone hadContinue reading “This Was Different”
M’aidez
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been told that the distress code “mayday” comes from an anglicization of the French expression “m’aidez,” literally “help me.” Well, once again, May Day is upon us, and I could use some help. You see, while some events – like the balloon that wound up on the driveway on my birthdayContinue reading “M’aidez”
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!”
Present People
Dearest Rachel – I’ve mentioned before to you that I’ve had some difficulty with regard to the traditional gift exchange that is a part of Christmas: what do I want, or more to the point, what can they get for me? Materially speaking, I have pretty much anything I need, and if Daniel or IContinue reading “Present People”
I Can’t Send You Anything
Dearest Rachel – I guess it’s a bit of good news that I managed to sleep straight through last night. I sacked myself in just before before midnight (yes I realize that’s five p.m. ‘our’ time, but I’m getting used to the time zone here), and didn’t wake up until almost half past nine. IContinue reading “I Can’t Send You Anything”
Missing a Name
Dearest Rachel – A few deliveries arrived over the weekend for the folks, as I work on the beginning of the holiday-season shopping list. The last quarter of the year includes quite a few extras for the family that not everyone has to deal with, such as Mom and Dad’s anniversary at the beginning ofContinue reading “Missing a Name”
Mercenary Worship
Dearest Rachel – You know, ordinarily something like a dream about Christmas shopping would be more of a nightmare – and let’s be honest, this Christmas is both going to be a lot easier (in terms of not having to wrack my brain trying to find something that you might truly want or enjoy) andContinue reading “Mercenary Worship”
Surprises
Dearest Rachel – I’ll tell you, this year thus far has been absolutely full of surprises. Which means that it’s probably a good thing you’re not around to deal with them, as you hated surprises. This was particularly evident when it came to birthdays and holidays – anything having to do with gift-giving. The longContinue reading “Surprises”
Cash in Cards
Dearest Rachel – I have to tell you, Jan has this thing about finding money in the houses she helps clean out and organize. She prides herself both on locating cash squirreled away in ridiculous places and in the fact that she lets her clients know about what she’s found. One of the first daysContinue reading “Cash in Cards”
Letters to Rachel 