Dearest Rachel – There’s a certain point at which it feels like commemorating the day of the year in which you suddenly had to go home is like picking at a longstanding, grievous wound. It’s not going to heal if I keep at it like this – although one would think that, if it’s onlyContinue reading “Five Years On”
Tag Archives: observations
from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part three)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“The Devil did not tempt Adam and Eve to steal, to lie, to kill, to commit adultery; he tempted them to live independent of God – this is soContinue reading “from Rachel: Recognizing the Evil Within (part three)”
What Makes Us Tick
Dearest Rachel – You might think that, by waking up with such a title for this morning’s letter, I’d be announcing some great theory of existence to you. A grand purpose for humanity or, on an individual basis, an explanation for what keeps each of us going, day after day. But no. I’d like toContinue reading “What Makes Us Tick”
So Far From Normal
Dearest Rachel – It was a running joke where we went to college (and eventually, where you and I met); by dint of being located in Bloomington, Illinois, we were by definition “as close to Normal as you could get” without actually quite being there. Geographically (and thus technically) true, but we certainly had ourContinue reading “So Far From Normal”
from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part three)
In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.“Failure to cooperate with God in the three responsibilities in the power of the spirit accounts for every failure in Christian living – why we’re here (doing this study,Continue reading “from Rachel: Understanding Biblical Change (part three)”
Can’t Bring Myself to Worry
Dearest Rachel – I never got into it with you – you used to watch them while I was at work and Daniel at school – but I know you were into certain varieties of horror for entertainment. I think it reminded you of those days when your Mom was away with one seminar orContinue reading “Can’t Bring Myself to Worry”
Plausible From One Angle
Dearest Rachel – It may not seem like it, since I’ve been able to contact you every day with some news or other, but there’s been a limited amount of stuff going on for me to tell you about. The fact that I can write to you at all has more to do with beingContinue reading “Plausible From One Angle”
Keep Your Head Down, Keep Your Mouth Shut
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know why – I never do, because no one can understand dream logic once they’re awake – but last night saw me hitchhiking across Canada, of all places. It was during their football season (which ended several weeks ago in real life, so the timing of this dream is aContinue reading “Keep Your Head Down, Keep Your Mouth Shut”
Sānùk (สนุก) and Suffering
Dearest Rachel – I’ve got a lot of stuff to take care of today – much of which built up while I was overseas, and some of which even has to do with this trip and others in the near future – and while I was contemplating it all, this word popped into my head.Continue reading “Sānùk (สนุก) and Suffering”
On the Way Out and Up
Dearest Rachel – Wednesday morning, and we’re up and out after an hour’s breakfast. Daniel and I try to eat as early as possible to finish putting ourselves together afterwards, but we barely make it to the bus by our scheduled departure time. You would have been, maybe not so much proud, as understanding of ourContinue reading “On the Way Out and Up”
Outed
Dearest Rachel – You would have found it amusing on Friday evening as we were setting things up for the Family Fest at church. As I have no work schedule to speak of (in fact, I’d taken the day off for the express purpose of making sure I was home to pay Kris as soonContinue reading “Outed”
For Me, A Costume
Dearest Rachel – It feels like it was so long ago – and it was, a good year and a half before your departure – that dress shirts and ties were de rigueur attire for me, as a member of the white collar work farce. You might also remember that I loathed it, especially theContinue reading “For Me, A Costume”
孝道的限度 (The Limits of Xiào)
Dearest Rachel – I don’t claim to be a student of Confucianism by any stretch of the imagination, but I am passingly familiar with at least one tenet of the philosophy? …religion? I’m not even entirely sure as to which it really is. Both are a means to guide behavior in the present world; whileContinue reading “孝道的限度 (The Limits of Xiào)”
A Shock of Cold
Dearest Rachel – Traveling by cruise ship can be a series of cultural shocks as you move from one city or country to another. Customs and habits change with each location – to say nothing of the weather. Even as it’s to be expected on an intellectual level, sometimes the differences catch you by surprise.Continue reading “A Shock of Cold”
Greenland Isn’t Icy Either, But…
Dearest Rachel – We were in the Crown Lounge yesterday morning, enjoying our coffee (which I’d spiked with chocolate syrup from the pancake table; for some reason, they don’t have hot cocoa mix on this trip, when it would be so much more appropriate to have on hand, given some of the places we’re visiting)Continue reading “Greenland Isn’t Icy Either, But…”
from Rachel: Scripture Interaction
When was the last time you felt God telling you to get a grip and see what is really important? “Probably at least three times yesterday. The later I am the more compelled I feel to make sure everything is just right, and I left here or Dana’s in a hurry 5 – 10 minutesContinue reading “from Rachel: Scripture Interaction”
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”
Enough To Make an Indian Cry
Dearest Rachel – I’d started this letter literally on the way to Just One from the airport. I’d thought, based on some of the topics touched on in the orientation, that our nightly debriefs might include the fact that we’d seen and heard stuff that we couldn’t comment upon in the moment. After all, weContinue reading “Enough To Make an Indian Cry”
Cruel Silence
Dearest Rachel – There are times when I imagine you, like my paternal grandfather before you (who you never met, although I think you met my grandmother), either filling in for Saint Peter or standing alongside him at his post, welcoming the new arrivals as they appear at the gates each constructed of individual pearls.Continue reading “Cruel Silence”
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”
Don’t Always Follow Leaders
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned yesterday about reading through my news feed as part of my body’s scheme to distract my mind from getting everybody up and out of the house to work on getting back into shape, particularly after a couple of days in a row in which I’d had a heavy meal atContinue reading “Don’t Always Follow Leaders”
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”
Two Against the Hawk
Dearest Rachel – I would promise you that this title and story has nothing to do with the individual known virally as the “Hawk Tuah” girl, except that she came to prominence well after your departure, so you wouldn’t have the first clue about who I’m even referring to. For whatever it’s worth (not thatContinue reading “Two Against the Hawk”
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”
When We Are The Terror
Dearest Rachel – It would seem that not all nightmares involve being personally terrorized; sometimes the nightmare involves being the terror itself, all while appearing to be perfectly innocuous. Such was my dream from last night, and a vivid one it was, honey. As far as I could tell, I was part of some classContinue reading “When We Are The Terror”
It Can’t Rain Forever
Dearest Rachel – While I might point out that I’m still sleepy this morning from having stayed up later than usual with Daniel watching videos last night – and I may have gotten a little too smug about dropping my weight down to two-oh-six after yesterday morning’s workout (had leftover salad to serve as myContinue reading “It Can’t Rain Forever”
The Last Trip Home
Dearest Rachel – Honestly, I never thought I would be setting foot in Macomb again. I may know my way around the place, even after all this time, but I couldn’t imagine having a need to return there. Of course, as it turned out, it wasn’t a need of mine that brought me back. WithContinue reading “The Last Trip Home”
from Rachel: The Handwriting on the Wall
Belshazzar made the mistake of treating the “holy” as “unholy.”Compare Leviticus 8:10-11 and 2 Chronicles 7:16 (“masah – to anoint; masiyah – the anointed one”). The Hebrew transliteration for consecrate is qadas meaning to be clean, “pronounce” clean (ceremonially or morally); to consecrate to God, “declare” as holy, “treat” as holy, signifies an act orContinue reading “from Rachel: The Handwriting on the Wall”
Better To Do Than Tell
Dearest Rachel – I fell asleep in front of the screen last night, so there’s clearly not much for me to tell you about my day. It wasn’t entirely unexpected, either; I could feel myself nodding off, so I switched to one of those videos that show a black screen and play what they claimContinue reading “Better To Do Than Tell”
Looks the Same
Dearest Rachel – The last time I was here at the Fashion Outlet Mall was just over a year ago, and for much the same reason; at barely above zero Fahrenheit, it’s just too darn cold outside to walk through the woods. So I’m wandering around here, waiting to meet up with Lars, at whichContinue reading “Looks the Same”
The Right to Gatekeep
·God is honored for what he keeps secret [L It is the glory of God to hide a matter/things; Deut. 29:29].·Kings are honored for what they can discover [L It is the glory of kings to examine them]. Proverbs 25:2, Expanded Bible First Pepperpot: How does Doctor bloody Bernofsky know which zoo it came from?Second Pepperpot: HeContinue reading “The Right to Gatekeep”
Before Our Time
Dearest Rachel – Unlike you – who appreciated my description of you as five years old with forty years’ experience – I never felt all that comfortable as a kid, and made an effort to grow up as quickly as possible. I related better to my elders than I did to my peers (although, comeContinue reading “Before Our Time”
from Rachel: Ties Between Past and Present
Fill in the two-word blank according to 2 Timothy 3:16.All Scripture is “God-breathed”… Aramaic, being the language of the world is used in those portions of the book which outline the future history of the worldly empires and their relation to the people of God, and Hebrew is used in those portions which interpret forContinue reading “from Rachel: Ties Between Past and Present”
The Reminder
Dearest Rachel – Thanks to the fact that “some people did something” (to quote a certain congressperson whose constituency guarantees that she will never have to regret her choice of words; indeed, they all but celebrate such a callous attitude toward that day), twenty-three years ago yesterday, it’s impossible for me to forget about ourContinue reading “The Reminder”
Mental Meanderings
Dearest Rachel – Some time between Saturday night and Sunday morning, I found myself in an interesting situation, but one that – for reasons that will become obvious in a moment – I can’t clearly describe to you. All I can remember of it at this point is that at the time I was thinkingContinue reading “Mental Meanderings”
Visiting Hours at the Evening Zoo
Dearest Rachel – You might remember listening to the radio being piped in through the overhead speakers in the cafeteria back at college. While most of the time, it was playing the usual top 40 stuff we could just as easily watch on the ‘campus nightlight’ that was MTV (I referred to it as suchContinue reading “Visiting Hours at the Evening Zoo”
Do I Try to Keep Up?
Dearest Rachel – I’ve told you numerous times in the past three and a half years that I’d prefer not to talk about current events with you. Aside from the obvious fact that nothing that’s happening on this tiny little mud clod in of much concern to you at this point (apart, hopefully, from Daniel,Continue reading “Do I Try to Keep Up?”
The Center of the Universe
Dearest Rachel – As much as I try to stay out of the boys’ business when they’re watching stuff, they do tend to be a little bit noisy from time to time. Both the shows they watch and the discussions they have are almost impossible to drown out, even from our bedroom on the oppositeContinue reading “The Center of the Universe”
Holiday Week
Dearest Rachel – One of the strange effects of being retired and out of the work farce is that I don’t exactly have my finger on the pulse of current trends. If people are doing things en masse, I’m not always aware of it – or if I am, it’s a very dim awareness, basedContinue reading “Holiday Week”
He Wants No Part of It
Dearest Rachel – The other day, I observed about how Daniel doesn’t really seem to have much of a handle on adulting. Oh, he can manage a thing or two when the chips are down; in fact, just this morning, he was calling the insurance company about the fender bender he got into a coupleContinue reading “He Wants No Part of It”
I Think I Got Its Attention
Dearest Rachel – It’s been over a week since I bought that new computer to replace the one in my ‘office’ in the basement of my folks’ house. Indeed, it’s almost been a week since it arrived and I took it over to Best Buy to have an additional hard drive installed. Now, while youContinue reading “I Think I Got Its Attention”
Docsplaining
Dearest Rachel – It should hardly come as a surprise that I haven’t watched any episodes of Doctor Who since your passing. There were, as you’ll recall, plenty of times in those last couple of years where, although it was fun enough for me to hunt them down online and collect them for you, gettingContinue reading “Docsplaining”
Mere Degrees From Artificial
Dearest Rachel – Well, I know you weren’t as into the high-tech toys that computers quite frankly have always been (and increasingly will continue to be) as I was (and always will be, I suspect), although your computer was your own favorite toy for our last ten or so years together. Still, you did haveContinue reading “Mere Degrees From Artificial”
A Waste of Time and Money
Dearest Rachel – Another year of the convention scene, another reminder that the scene has passed me by. I wish I didn’t have to utter the cliché “I’m getting too old for this,” but more and more, I’m starting to realize how well it fits. There’s no place for dilettantes in Otaku Nation; you’re eitherContinue reading “A Waste of Time and Money”
Why It Hurts To Watch
Dearest Rachel – Okay, I promised to tell you about these series I’d been watching from time to time over the past few months – as well as why I don’t particularly like watching them, or any anime, as much as I used to when we did so together. And given that I’m up atContinue reading “Why It Hurts To Watch”
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”
Moving Out
Dearest Rachel – Well, this is it. After having unpacked in my stateroom upon arrival – and having accumulated so much since then, it’s time for me to gather everything back up, and move out, if I can. But first, I have a morning ritual to perform for the last time. You’re probably wondering whyContinue reading “Moving Out”
from Rachel: The Peace of Jerusalem
What does Isaiah 55:10-11 say about God’s Word? “It does not return void, but does the work God intends for it.” OK, let’s get to our third Psalm of Ascent. Quick review: what three approaches are we going to take? “Say” it, “work” it, and at the conclusion of our next day of study, we’llContinue reading “from Rachel: The Peace of Jerusalem”
What Would “Uncle Ho” Think?
Dearest Rachel – Technically, we’re in the municipality of Phu My (and please, don’t ask me to pronounce that). It’s not all that unusual; many of the cities that we are visiting are separate from the port we actually dock at. Consider Keelung and Taipei, for instance, or even Yokohama and Tokyo, for that matterContinue reading “What Would “Uncle Ho” Think?”
Momentary Millionaire
Dearest Rachel – Since I thought I might need to get my hands on some of the local currency in case I have any significant expenditures to deal with while ashore (if nothing else, having cash to tip our tour guides with can’t be a bad thing), I figured I would look up the localContinue reading “Momentary Millionaire”
Return To The Mountain
Dearest Rachel – It is so weird to be back in the same obscure little exurban(? I mean, it’s exurban to Tokyo, whose existence is so overwhelming that even Yokohama, the second largest city in Japan, practically ceases to exist in most people’s minds – including my own – as a separate entity) port thatContinue reading “Return To The Mountain”
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”
Twelve Hours on the Mainland (Eight of Them on the Road)
Dearest Rachel – So, this is the day; the twelve-plus hour excursion. They don’t get any longer than this; from here on out, everything else is going to be relatively easy. Hours on a coach, passing two enormous cities, to visit a place that I’ve been to before (but admittedly, barely remember, apart from someContinue reading “Twelve Hours on the Mainland (Eight of Them on the Road)”
from Rachel: The Display of Satisfaction and Peace
Read Isaiah 58:6-12, and… write a one sentence summary expressing the heart of this passage. “If someone obeys God and becomes a powerful force for Him, He will satisfy their needs.” Theme 1 (v. 6): The kind of “fasting” God has chosen. Theme 2 (v. 11): [The Lord] will “satisfy” your needs in a sunContinue reading “from Rachel: The Display of Satisfaction and Peace”
An Important Place to Someone
Dearest Rachel – We don’t get a lot of time today in Lombok – well, in fairness, we rarely get much time in any destination that we visit; just the one day we get there and leave. It is one of the drawbacks of cruising – if you find something that particularly draws your interestContinue reading “An Important Place to Someone”
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”
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!”
from Rachel: A Planting of the Lord
Read the familiar words of Mark 12:28-30. What is God‘s absolute priority commandment for you and me, and according to 1 John 3:18, what form should a genuine love for God take? “We should love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength with actions and in truth.” Write the last sentence ofContinue reading “from Rachel: A Planting of the Lord”
Burning Daylight
Dearest Rachel – Well, honey, it’s official: we are clearly in summer. Not just because it’s so warm out (that could just as easily be attributed to the fact that we’re not that far from the equator, although we’re moving further away from it by the minute), but because it’s light out even at theContinue reading “Burning Daylight”
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”
Tanning Bed
Dearest Rachel – I hardly need to tell you that I’m nobody’s sun worshiper. Ra, Aton, Helios… they’re all utterly foreign to me. That being said, I understand the need to get oneself the proper amount of vitamin D even if I don’t always remember the proper dosage; when I went to restock my pillsContinue reading “Tanning Bed”
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?”
from Rachel: Deprogramming and Reprogramming
first image: “Recognize the Captor / Bowing to thoughts”second image: “Stand in agreement with God / No longer bowing to thoughts” Satan lacks the authority to lock believers in a prison of oppression, so he works overtime to talk us into staying. Meditate on 2 Corinthians 11:1-3 for a moment. Based on these three verses,Continue reading “from Rachel: Deprogramming and Reprogramming”
from Rachel: The Fruit of Unfailing Love
Give at least five endings to the incomplete sentences, offering your own thoughts contrasting two children: one who believes he or she is loved and the other who does not. A child who believes he or she is loved… – “has confidence to go out into the world– “knows they can come home and beContinue reading “from Rachel: The Fruit of Unfailing Love”
When Everything is Trivial…
Dearest Rachel – While the crisis has passed for now – Dad is settled in a nearly convalescent home, and undergoing physical and occupational therapy, such that he neither requires nor necessarily event wants too many people around him for too long thereafter, as he’s too tired to socialize, and will say so – thereContinue reading “When Everything is Trivial…”
from Rachel: God’s Daily Rule
Explain why Jeremiah said [in 29:11-13] walking with God is so much wiser and personally fulfilling than asking God to walk with us. “God‘s plans are to prosper us and give us hope and a future.” “Father, what are those golden treasure boxes on certain days?” “Blessings, My child, I had for you along theContinue reading “from Rachel: God’s Daily Rule”
Life vs. Existence
Waking up to another dark morningPeople are mourningThe weather in life outside is storming… Superchick, “We Live,” from Beauty From Pain (2005) Dearest Rachel – This song wasn’t the first thing in my head this morning. To be honest – and you’ll hear about it in a minute – there wasn’t much of anything goingContinue reading “Life vs. Existence”
Snogging in Church
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned recently that we’re in the middle of a series on the Beatitudes at church. This past weekend’s topic was on hungering and thirsting for righteousness. It was pointed out that, just as in the real, physical world, there is healthy food, and there is junk food that we find ourselvesContinue reading “Snogging in Church”
Don’t Try to Solve Your Problems
Dearest Rachel – I won’t call what I woke up with this morning a dream, as such. There’s no particular story to tell you about, exactly. But in going over the situation as I see it from a distance, there’s a moral to be grasped from it all; not a particularly uplifting or encouraging one,Continue reading “Don’t Try to Solve Your Problems”
Never the Target Audience
Dearest Rachel – There was another thing that came to mind for a topic to discuss with you yesterday morning as I was working out, but since I had the actual events of the day (and the attitude associated with them) to describe to you already, I set it aside for the time. But sinceContinue reading “Never the Target Audience”
Greetings From the Robinsons
Dearest Rachel – Well, it seems as though my subconscious decided to take the night off last night; I guess I can’t expect it to come up with something to tell you about every night. After all, there are plenty of real-life things I could be telling you about. It’s just that none of themContinue reading “Greetings From the Robinsons”
Blue Sky and Memory
Dearest Rachel – I don’t exactly have a dream to tell you about this morning, only a piece of music that was running through my head upon waking up at three in the morning. It was a song that I would claim that I’ve never heard before my iTunes algorithm brought it to my attentionContinue reading “Blue Sky and Memory”
Smoke on the Water
The good sleep better at night, but the wicked enjoy their waking hours more Woody Allen (attributed) Dearest Rachel – Well, were you expecting the intense bass guitar riffs of Deep Purple? This isn’t exactly a format that can accommodate that; or rather, I don’t have a .midi file at hand to attach to thisContinue reading “Smoke on the Water”
Too Many Moments, Too Many Left
Dearest Rachel – On the way to the restaurant this morning, where the men’s group was meeting – honestly, you’d think as many would show up for food as study, but we rarely even manage half the crowd of a normal Saturday morning – I was listening to John Ondrasik’s “100 Years” in my car.Continue reading “Too Many Moments, Too Many Left”
A Manga for This?
Dearest Rachel – Some days, when I’m recording what’s happening to me, in order to assemble it into a letter to send to you, I find myself distracted (if that’s the right word) by the events surrounding me. Granted, these are the very events that I’m trying to take in so as to tell youContinue reading “A Manga for This?”
Rough Start
Dearest Rachel – These conventions don’t always start out grey and rainy, but it’s certainly a risk we run during the spring. When I started to fill the car, it was just sprinkling (which was more than nuisance enough), but by the time the boys were awake, it was pretty much pouring down rain. It’sContinue reading “Rough Start”
Essay on Eight
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a very long time since I’ve had a dream about being unprepared for school; in fact, I can’t remember the last time that’s happened. Of course, that may just be due to the fact that I rarely ever felt that I was during my educational career. Which rather begs theContinue reading “Essay on Eight”
A Star Is Dying
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday, I wrote to you about places that we used to frequent that have since been shuttered for whatever reason; we will never be able to go to this or that place again. No longer will being there remind me of the times we spent there, because ‘being there’ is no longerContinue reading “A Star Is Dying”
Fine With the Evil Choice
Dearest Rachel – I realize that the ‘you’ I saw in last night’s dream was wildly out of character, but I’ve come to accept that this is how dreams operate. Considering that there was a whole other level of distance from reality involved, it shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise. In the dreamContinue reading “Fine With the Evil Choice”
All Part of the Show
Dearest Rachel – You might be surprised (or you might not, what do I know?) to discover how often I get started on the letter to you, only to virtually crumpled up and throw it over my shoulder into the trash. Maybe I can’t find an ending for it. Maybe it’s just too rambling andContinue reading “All Part of the Show”
Staying Put… or Not
Dearest Rachel – Eight a.m., and we’re eating breakfast overlooking the enormous (compared to most of our other stops, including Tokyo; the roof is even with the level of the upper-deck cafe) station at the Kobe harbor. We’re going to be here until five in the evening tomorrow. Well, ‘we’ as in the passengers onContinue reading “Staying Put… or Not”
As Long As We Walk the Earth
Dearest Rachel – Dave Barry, a man I admire as both a writer and a humorist, wrote a book about his experiences in this country some twenty or thirty years ago entitled, creatively enough, Dave Barry Does Japan. In it, he speaks of his own adventures and misadventures as he bumbles his way through theContinue reading “As Long As We Walk the Earth”
Broken Morning
Dearest Rachel – I have to confess, I’m not really sure what time zone I’m functioning on at this point. I only know it’s not really the one that I should be on. Since there’s nothing particularly interesting in terms of entertainment after dinner (unless I want to stay up until 11 or so, toContinue reading “Broken Morning”
Gym Opinions
Dearest Rachel – Unlike you, with your collection so vast that I now have three separate quilts commemorating you and your opinions, friendships and travels, I never put a whole lot of thought into my T-shirts. I had very few things I was suitably passionate about to wear them on my chest, and I despisedContinue reading “Gym Opinions”
Zombies
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure you’re wondering about the title; all those apocalyptic movies and television shows (World War Z, the Walking Dead) all came out years ago, during your lifetime. These can’t still be popular to the point where I’d comment on them, are they? Especially since it was you who were into thoseContinue reading “Zombies”
Soup Over Art
Dearest Rachel – I never got to take you to see it, but I discovered it before your time; in Lily Tomlin’s one-woman comedic opus The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe, Tomlin’s main persona (and framing device), a bag lady named Trudy, tells us about these aliens who have contacted her. On theContinue reading “Soup Over Art”
No Need for a Bicycle
Dearest Rachel – You know, you spoiled me, honey. When I first wrote to you after leaving university, some thirty-three years ago, it wasn’t out of any hope of a future together with you. Quite the opposite, in fact; it was a message of resignation and surrender, knowing that I had just left the lastContinue reading “No Need for a Bicycle”
Of Horses, Birds and Muffins
Dearest Rachel – I came up to the home office to update my weight chart (I seem to be once again stuck at a plateau, unable to move the needle unless I cut back down to no more than a single meal a day. Still, at least I’m staying a long way from where IContinue reading “Of Horses, Birds and Muffins”
The Non Blizzard
Dearest Rachel – I woke up to something other than pitch blackness this morning, which I take as a good sign. Lately, I haven’t been regularly getting my full eight hours, despite my best attempts, and I’m not exactly sure why. Not that you were ever concerned about getting that many hours at a timeContinue reading “The Non Blizzard”
Greetings Into the Void
Dearest Rachel – I know that technically, we do have a Christmas tree in the house. In fact, it wasn’t until Jan came in to help me clear out so much of the clutter left behind that I even took it down after Christmas 2020. But it hasn’t been brought out of the crawlspace andContinue reading “Greetings Into the Void”
Who Knows You
Dearest Rachel – There’s a cynical saying that’s gone around for generations that “it’s not what you know, but who you know.” Essentially, all the education in the world won’t necessarily get you as far as having certain contacts. And, depending on the field you’re trying to break into (and your definition of success) thatContinue reading “Who Knows You”
I’m With Stupid (Times Two)
Dearest Rachel – You know, one of the things that I really miss about your absence is the fact that I’m no longer able to just say whatever I want to. If something popped into my head, I could just lean over to you and say it, without too much fear of you judging meContinue reading “I’m With Stupid (Times Two)”
How Long Until You Knew?
Dearest Rachel – Just think, it was only yesterday that I was congratulating myself for having reacclimatized to the local time zone. I really should have known better. But last night, I had already woken up once, at three, so I was mildly disgusted with myself about that. At the same time, my head wasContinue reading “How Long Until You Knew?”
All or Nothing at All
Dearest Rachel – For all that it’s been an edifying trip (even with the distraction of me trying to write everything down as I’m walking through every single site), it’s really good to get back home, and pile myself into my own bed. Daniel agrees, despite the fact that his bed is essentially the familyContinue reading “All or Nothing at All”
The Satisfaction of Dreams
It’s often the little things in life that can be the most satisfying, particularly after a relatively long absence. For instance, after a week of irregular sleep, the fact that I woke up from a dream lets me know that I’ve finally gotten a good night’s sleep. It wasn’t anything fancy, to be honest. TheContinue reading “The Satisfaction of Dreams”
This You Cannot Make Me Do
Dearest Rachel – The climax of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is the moment when Scrooge brushes the snow away from the tombstone of the ‘unknown’ man he had seen lying dead earlier in his travels with the Spirit of Christmas Future. It’s the turning point in which he realizes how worthless his life hasContinue reading “This You Cannot Make Me Do”
Tapped Out (for the Moment)
Dearest Rachel – There are days when the slightest thing can trigger a flood of memories for me to write you about. Like Marcel Proust going on for pages about the shape, texture, and mouthfeel of a madeleine cookie, there are days when I could write for ages on the smallest thing, if I feltContinue reading “Tapped Out (for the Moment)”
Mercy, Grace and Pity
Good morning, honey – This morning’s visions are going to be considerably more disjointed than most – dreams can be like that, after all – but it’s the sort of thing you’d likely be telling me about if it happened to you, so I think it’s only fair. This letter might also be the sortContinue reading “Mercy, Grace and Pity”
If You Could Read My Mind…
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve told you a couple of times about how easy it is to write by dictating to Siri. Rather than bothering to find every letter on the keyboard, I can just talk to her, and everything shows up pretty quickly thereafter. Sure, there are moments when I have to stopContinue reading “If You Could Read My Mind…”
If You Seek A Devil…
…you’ll surely find one. Dearest Rachel – This isn’t the sort of letter I really enjoy writing, but it’s a frustrating situation I feel I have to share with you. You’ve heard me tell you plenty about Daniel, and the prophets and pundits he prefers to listen to over me or anyone else in hisContinue reading “If You Seek A Devil…”
Letters to Rachel 