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”
Tag Archives: possessions
Determined to Leave it Behind
Dearest Rachel – It’s the sort of thing that, had it happened to you, you would be distraught about. Daniel acknowledged that he would be distraught – and he brought along a spare on this trip. And maybe I ought to be, considering how far I’d come with it over the past year and aContinue reading “Determined to Leave it Behind”
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”
Notes From The Return Trip
Dearest Rachel – It’s Monday morning after a week away from the gym, and the sky outside is dull, gray… and most importantly, raining. You can probably guess that these are more than enough reasons for me to be thoroughly reluctant to head out to the gym, honey, while at the same time that weekContinue reading “Notes From The Return Trip”
Returning to Collect
Dearest Rachel – I’m not sure whether I heard the car approach – I certainly didn’t recognize it, if I paid any attention to it at all – as it pulled up to your parents’ house and you got out to look through the place one more time. I watched through the immense picture windowContinue reading “Returning to Collect”
Things I Never Considered
Dearest Rachel – When we set out for the island a couple of weeks ago, Daniel went and got your urn to take with us (after all, that was the whole point of the trip). But at first, he also made to gather up the water bottles we’d surrounded it with on the sunroom coffeeContinue reading “Things I Never Considered”
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”
When the People Are Dying
Dearest Rachel – This is definitely not one of the tunes we swapped between us when we were courting after I graduated from college, but it’s true that at least one of Tonio K’s songs was in that lineup. This one has way too much social commentary to be considered a love song, to sayContinue reading “When the People Are Dying”
Why Tiny Houses?
Dearest Rachel – The other day, I was telling you about how I fell down a rabbit hole of real estate listings, particularly in a place that we’d both individually been to and wanted to return to, but never got the chance to do together (let alone take Daniel with us to show him whatContinue reading “Why Tiny Houses?”
They’ve Stopped Making It
Dearest Rachel – It’s a silly little line that hits early on in A Charlie Brown Christmas, but it occasionally resonates with me for reasons I can’t quite pin down. The gang are catching snowflakes on their tongues as they fall around them (Lucy, fussbudget that she is, insists that she never engages in suchContinue reading “They’ve Stopped Making It”
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”
Scorch Marks and Smoke Wisps
Dearest Rachel – Toni asked me the other day, upon realizing that the anniversary of your accident was coming up soon, if I was planning to do anything that day to honor it and you. Now, when I read that sentence after writing it, it makes it sound like she was asking if she couldContinue reading “Scorch Marks and Smoke Wisps”
Close the Whine Cellar
Dearest Rachel – Another insanely early morning (I fell asleep before ten last night, and found myself waking up at three; this whole circadian rhythm thing is beginning to be a self-perpetuating problem), and I step outside to discover the streets are slick with moisture. Evidently, it rained overnight, and I don’t recall hearing anyContinue reading “Close the Whine Cellar”
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…”
A Chair For You
Dearest Rachel – I’ve been trying to find the photo for the last hour, with no success; it happens, when I’m away from home and don’t have access to every single photo I’ve stored on every single hard drive in my possession. So I guess I’ll just have to write about it without showing you,Continue reading “A Chair For You”
Impulse Indulgence
Dearest Rachel – I’m honestly not sure how you would have reacted; maybe, as you hear the details, you wouldn’t think of it as such a big deal. And, truth be told, it wasn’t quite the impulse buy as the title might indicate (although there wasn’t that much thought put into it, either, leading toContinue reading “Impulse Indulgence”
Empty Minds and Screens
Dearest Rachel – I was up earlier than usual today, for reasons that escape me. Daniel seemed to have fallen asleep with one of his internet broadcasts on, and the noise of it would occasionally seep into the bedroom and stir me to wakefulness. So I finally gave up around a little after five, andContinue reading “Empty Minds and Screens”
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”
“That Guy” in a Panic
Dearest Rachel – It’s not often that I find myself in the middle of an actual nightmare, particularly one as vivid and engrossing as this. Normally, of course, my worse dreams tend to be muddled and confusing, and those bad ones that are clear leave me wanting to escape them. Which, of course, I eventuallyContinue reading ““That Guy” in a Panic”
from Rachel: That Ancient Serpent
How does Revelation12:9 portray Satan? “a dragon, a serpent” What is Satan’s role in every human going astray (Revelation 12:9)? “He leads the way.” What more do you see about Satan in Luke 4:13? “He waits for opportunities when we are vulnerable.” What behavior might you see in your life that you disliked in yourContinue reading “from Rachel: That Ancient Serpent”
A Lot (Or Not) to Unpack
Dearest Rachel – You’ve heard me mention several times already how this is my first road trip in a year. In that time, I’ve taken two overseas trips, which tend to be for longer periods, and require me (and Daniel) to use a large suitcase, and pack a lot more (although, since he will sometimesContinue reading “A Lot (Or Not) to Unpack”
Tools and Toys
Dearest Rachel – There are days when I look back over the day at ‘work,’ and think to myself that I spent it doing anything but. It’s not that I regret the time spent just playing around with the computer, mind you, but when the folks ask about what I did, and if I accomplishedContinue reading “Tools and Toys”
If A Tree Falls…
Dearest Rachel – It was a little after five in the morning when it happened. I was in the middle of a dream about a young husband (not me, obviously) trying to raise a ridiculous amount of money – some $800 million or so – for his wife’s medical expenses, and succeeding to the tuneContinue reading “If A Tree Falls…”
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”
from Rachel: When Your Thought Closet is Blue
In Psalm 42:5, what question did [the psalmist] record? “Why are you downcast, O my soul?“Why so disturbed within me?” Why do you think the psalmist asked this question? Check one: He was… “searching for the reason for his despair.” What colors make up your thought closet? “purple” What color are your personality, your memories,Continue reading “from Rachel: When Your Thought Closet is Blue”
The Cost of Things Lost
Dearest Rachel – It would seem that the conventional wisdom, the rule of thumb, is more accurate than I had considered giving it credit for. Daniel and I have been waking up at ridiculous hours throughout the entirety of the past week since arriving back home, including today. I can’t speak for so much forContinue reading “The Cost of Things Lost”
Shopportunities
Dearest Rachel – The first time we heard this phrase was the last time we were in Israel. Our guide, Irad, claimed no credit for it; he had, on a recent tour previous, been asked about them from a pair of twenty-something girls, and liked the expression so much as to ask permission to borrowContinue reading “Shopportunities”
Pa(ni)cking
Dearest Rachel – In the eponymous book describing it (and the many adventures Arthur Dent takes under its influence), The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy has emblazoned on its cover two critical words: “Don’t Panic.” In theory, it’s good advice for the traveler, whether you’re escaping a planet that’s about to be destroyed, or justContinue reading “Pa(ni)cking”
Your Big Brother is Dying
Dearest Rachel – There were a lot of factors I could point to that conspired to present last night’s dream. There’s been all the work that’s been done her at our house, and the issues involved with navigating around everything while it’s been worked on. Hand in glove with that is the current issue withContinue reading “Your Big Brother is Dying”
A Dash of Cold Water
Dearest Rachel – In the last five or so years of your life, you decided to give up on your longstanding rule about messing with your hair (up until that point, you were afraid of losing its natural curl that you, like Freida from Peanuts, were so proud of), and dye it going forward. BetterContinue reading “A Dash of Cold Water”
Gray Over Tan
Dearest Rachel – After a weekend of completely overcast skies – and the rain to go with it – today is only partially gray. And I’m fine with that. It’s nice that I don’t have to worry about it threatening to rain again today – the sun’s out just enough to assure me of that.Continue reading “Gray Over Tan”
Red Steam in the Sunrise
Dearest Rachel – I’ve made this distinction before; it’s a rare thing that one’s daydreams and one’s dreams should coincide. But this morning’s screenings clearly must’ve resulted from having won the lottery or something like that. I mean, sure, I probably acquired the thing for kopecks on the ruble, but fixing up an old SovietContinue reading “Red Steam in the Sunrise”
Merchandising Dreams
Dearest Rachel – There are some days when I have a letter to write you begun in my head – I may even start to put it down in the cloud to post the next day (assuming there’s a time in the afternoon when I don’t simply decide to hang out in the family roomContinue reading “Merchandising Dreams”
You Can’t Always Just Replace
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned yesterday that, after furnishing it (however minimally), I’m going to have to give up on the ‘yellow-room-as-man-cave’ concept for a while. This leaves me with one less place to retreat to as the boys effectively take over the house. “But honey,” I hear you ask, “weren’t we always just fineContinue reading “You Can’t Always Just Replace”
Facing Myself in the Morning
Dearest Rachel – Back in the day, when I was still a part of the work farce, Mohinder would ask me about what I told myself each morning when I would stare at myself in the bathroom mirror, getting ready for the new day. He didn’t seem to think I could face my reflection andContinue reading “Facing Myself in the Morning”
Press ‘2’ For Snow
Dearest Rachel – I just sent the letter out to you yesterday, but I wonder if I shouldn’t make ‘Retail Therapy’ a whole new category of story for me to tell you about. There have certainly been enough purchases that I could retroactively add the category to, and I’m sure that I will make moreContinue reading “Press ‘2’ For Snow”
Retail Therapy
Dearest Rachel – I’m pretty sure it’s not a phrase of your own provenance, although I’m fairly certain I heard it from your lips a number of times. I think you used it to describe several of your friends and their behavior, and while neither of us engaged in it (much), it wasn’t exactly anContinue reading “Retail Therapy”
Making Sure He’s Remembered
Dearest Rachel – Some days, I find myself focusing on myself – actually, that’s most days. I doubt it’s unique to me. For all that we’re forced to admit to being self-centered and blinkered when it comes to our perspective in life, the fact of the matter is that it’s the only perspective we have.Continue reading “Making Sure He’s Remembered”
Fig Tree & Vineyard
Dearest Rachel – I know, I know; the title sounds like some cheerful little English pub: “Don’t wait up for me, luv, I’m off to the Figtree & Vineyard for a couple pints and a round a’darts with me mates. Be home when I’ve ’ad enough.” Not the sort of thing you’d ever expect –Continue reading “Fig Tree & Vineyard”
The Peace of C.O.D.
Dearest Rachel – I’d gotten the invoice late last week, and wrote the check out on Monday; I don’t like waiting when it comes to paying bills (back in the day, Dad would consider that a foolish attitude in his mother, but that was back when you could still earn interest on money that youContinue reading “The Peace of C.O.D.”
Pliable v Stubborn
Dearest Rachel – Every day, there is a new member of the team to meet and deal with. The last couple of days have been spent dealing with the plumbing, first in the kitchen, then in the laundry room. Today, I’ve met with the electrician. His news isn’t particularly promising, but these are things thatContinue reading “Pliable v Stubborn”
Hard Reboot
Dearest Rachel – I know you would consider me as such, but I would deny that I’m really a ‘morning person,’ except by default. That is, I’m clearly not a night owl – I would rarely stay up past midnight, even back in college, and would usually be in bed by 10:30. But that wasContinue reading “Hard Reboot”
Cheap and Cheerful Children’s Chocolate
Dearest Rachel – For the longest time, All Souls’ Day and Easter Monday were holidays for us as an immediate family. Not as a religious observation, of course, but more as a shopping event. Assuming we – and by ‘we,’ I mean you – could remember to do so early enough in the day, youContinue reading “Cheap and Cheerful Children’s Chocolate”
Keep Me Warm ’Til Then
Dearest Rachel – So, I was going to tell you about this yesterday, but I got distracted by the events of the day. Somehow, Resurrection Sunday seemed more important to talk about than my latest acquisition. I think you’d be fine with the delay. Besides, I’d gotten the notice from UPS on Friday that itContinue reading “Keep Me Warm ’Til Then”
When the Wind Blows…
Dearest Rachel – It’s a literal situation out there today; a fairly bright, sunny day made uncomfortably cold by the fact that the wind is blowing like crazy out there. I’ve even been forced to order a supply of zip ties, as the sign on our light post has snapped one of the ones thatContinue reading “When the Wind Blows…”
They Don’t Break All At Once
Dearest Rachel – So, I’ve just done three loads of laundry and run the dishwasher, all in a single afternoon. Not out of some sense of nostalgia for appliances that will soon be pulled from the house and discarded – odds are, I’ll still need to do a load or two yet between now andContinue reading “They Don’t Break All At Once”
The Call of the Wired
Dearest Rachel – Back in the day, we used to bring our computers with us on these trips (just like we did when we went to the island) in order to entertain ourselves on certain slower days. In the early days, we had stuff on CDs, which we later swapped out for portable hard drivesContinue reading “The Call of the Wired”
What I’m In For
Dearest Rachel – It’s just about nine in the morning, and I’m back to wandering around that strip mall I talked about last night. I have a little bit more purpose in this morning’s walk, as I’ve realized what I’ve forgotten to pack (and which you would have taken care of, so I would neverContinue reading “What I’m In For”
The Finnish Reindeer Coat
Dearest Rachel – The other day, I saw Mom getting a few old coats out of the cedar closet in their basement (from the room under what used to be my own, back when I was growing up). Admittedly, I didn’t think much of it, but took the moment to fill her in on theContinue reading “The Finnish Reindeer Coat”
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 Mockery of Billboards
Dearest Rachel – I forget if I read much of his stuff before you were a part of my life – I don’t think you introduced me to his work – but you seemed to have an affinity toward the poetry of Ogden Nash. His series on ‘Animals’ was one you favored, but the mostContinue reading “The Mockery of Billboards”
Not Just ‘Someone Else’s Car’
Dearest Rachel – I want to start this letter off by saying there’s nothing more uncomfortable than driving someone else’s car, but that’s not exactly true. I suspect that, given enough time, and pointed where all of the necessary (and some of the extraneous ones, like the sound system) controls are, I can get usedContinue reading “Not Just ‘Someone Else’s Car’”
A Little Piece of You
Dearest Rachel – Good friends will help you move; Great friends will help you move bodies. I suppose this means that my sister Jenn and Lars could be considered to be great friends. Now Jenn, as counterintuitive as it might be, should not come as any great surprise. Yes, as siblings, we were – andContinue reading “A Little Piece of You”
Dakimakura
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know if you remember it, but even before we were separated, I recall looking at websites that offered to create a custom dakimakura, or body pillow. You know the type I’m talking about; there’s always at least one or two vendors in every anime convention dealer room hawking these things.Continue reading “Dakimakura”
Taking Delivery
Dearest Rachel – This never happens to me. In some other context, that would be the punchline to a bad (and NSFW) joke, I’m sure. Either way, it would seem that the joke is on me. It’s bad enough that I woke up sometime between 3:30 and 4:00, unable to go back to sleep untilContinue reading “Taking Delivery”
A Quiet Cup of Cocoa
Dearest Rachel – Well, for all the food I managed to ply the girls with last night (and some of the stuff that they brought in turn), we never got around to the cocoa. I had been hoping to use some of the stuff that I had gotten for Christmas from ‘Santa’ (ha ha) withContinue reading “A Quiet Cup of Cocoa”
Glass Ceilings, Floors and Faces
Dearest Rachel – You hear talk a lot about the glass ceiling, that tantalizing sight above women in the career marketplace preventing them from the advancement they might otherwise be entitled to. You were never much for that, having no desire for a career as far as I could tell. In any event, it’s aContinue reading “Glass Ceilings, Floors and Faces”
Rich Fools
Dearest Rachel – I will always remember the story that you used to tell about your mom‘s father, who worked for the SEC in its early days. It was a fairly lucrative job as I understand it (working for the government often is), and most of his colleagues were both younger than him, and decidedlyContinue reading “Rich Fools”
Moving the Man Cave
Dearest Rachel – It wasn’t that long ago that I thought I’d make a man cave out of the basement; all that space seemed like the perfect place to put a couch and a flatscreen television/computer combination like we’ve had in the family room for ages. Daniel could keep the family room (which for allContinue reading “Moving the Man Cave”
It Ain’t Carnegie Hall
Dearest Rachel – The weather can be particularly perverse at times. Just yesterday, I’d heard that the New Year’s event to be held up at camp starting today had to be canceled, due to a lack of snow and the lake not having frozen over. This morning, I wake up to a blanket of snowContinue reading “It Ain’t Carnegie Hall”
That’s What I Want
Dearest Rachel – You used to tell me that one of the things that appealed to you about me was the fact that I resembled your dad in a number of different ways. I mean, not so much in looks or in age (thank heaven for that!), but in a playful sense of humor andContinue reading “That’s What I Want”
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”
Triple Feature
Dearest Rachel – It was so good to see you last night, and so many times, and through so much. If only I could convince anybody that you were there. Everything started off with a rather kinetic, video game feel to it. You and I were trying to get through a maze, and sort ofContinue reading “Triple Feature”
Woefully Unprepared
Dearest Rachel – I imagine that this a sensation you were quite familiar with in your day; I woke up this morning realizing I haven’t done my homework for a long time – well, at least for this week. And as a result, I’m going to show up at the Bible study woefully unprepared forContinue reading “Woefully Unprepared”
from Rachel: The Heart of Worship
“4/29 “Truth be told, I am still holding back several areas of my life. “As far as early morning devotion time goes, I don’t want to move up my alarm time if I haven’t gotten to bed by 12, but to do so, I need to head upstairs with Daniel, which means I need toContinue reading “from Rachel: The Heart of Worship”
The Futility of Collection
Dearest Rachel – So the other day, I started working on those video tapes from downstairs; playing them on one of our old VCRs, running the output through the converter box, and turning them into digital files. I’ll probably be putting one of them up on my channel at some point today, because I needContinue reading “The Futility of Collection”
Thousands of Hours to Go
Dearest Rachel – I went through three VCRs trying to figure out what was going wrong. It turned out that the reason there was no adequate picture was because I shouldn’t have plugged the connection in all the way. I think I’m gonna have to go back and explain this to you. Let me justContinue reading “Thousands of Hours to Go”
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”
The Last of the Crawl Space
Dearest Rachel – You probably remember that scene from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. That harrowing bit when Judge Doom announced that he would “try, convict and ex-ecute” Roger, all while nonchalantly lowering an otherwise inoffensive (and subsequently terrified) clown shoe to its death in a barrel of ‘Dip.’ That was the sensation I felt whenContinue reading “The Last of the Crawl Space”
from Rachel: Life Is A Temporary Assignment
“May 1” “I should try to remember C.S. Lewis’ quote ‘All that is not eternal is eternally useless.’” “Back to my life metaphor (part five) – I am journeying through a foreign land toward my real home. “(Camp out, don’t build a house.)” “I should, today and every day, try to value work more andContinue reading “from Rachel: Life Is A Temporary Assignment”
I Need the Hat and Bullwhip
Dearest Rachel – I want to first point out that I don’t say that out of any need to be ‘cool’ or anything – although those accessories would seem undeniably make me look a lot cooler than I am. It’s also not just because this is turning into an archaeological dig of our relationship. It’sContinue reading “I Need the Hat and Bullwhip”
Getting Started When You Can’t
Dearest Rachel – My morning starts at ten ‘til six; that’s when I find myself waking up organically. Some wag on the Internet has made the assertion that one’s alarm clock represents one’s theme song, because that’s how you begin most every episode of your life. If that’s the case, then it would seem thatContinue reading “Getting Started When You Can’t”
No Dead Bodies, But Skeletons Nonetheless
Dearest Rachel – I have a feeling we’re not going to be making a whole lot of progress today. Today Jan has resolved to begin work on the crawlspace, and while I know you kept most of our Christmas stuff and the stuff for the island down there, if there’s anything else from anywhere else,Continue reading “No Dead Bodies, But Skeletons Nonetheless”
from Rachel: Seeing Life from God’s View
“April 28 and 30” “If I were to try and give a metaphor to life, I think I would go with it being a journey. To me, this isn’t entirely worldly and unbiblical, there is A Pilgrims Progress, and, more importantly, Jesus talks of the narrow road to heaven as opposed to the wide roadContinue reading “from Rachel: Seeing Life from God’s View”
Cornfest
Dearest Rachel – It’s the first Saturday in August, and you know what that means. Well, yes, they did serve food at the men’s Bible study this morning (you might recall that Oracio used to own – and still works at – a pizza joint. Yeah, pizza for breakfast, prepared on a grill. Things theseContinue reading “Cornfest”
Nevermore?
Dearest Rachel – Sometimes you don’t see the whole story all at once. Sometimes, what you see at one point might be considered remarkable, but then more happens later that adds to the unfolding story. Yesterday, we received the strangest visitors; a pair of painters who claimed to have been from several doors down north.Continue reading “Nevermore?”
The Return Trip
God, grant us strength todayAs we go our separate ways.Though we do not know quite when,Shield us ’til we meet again. me, this morning Dearest Rachel – And so it goes, as they say in Tralfamadore. It’s time (and past time, compared to almost everyone else) to return to life as usual… whatever that isContinue reading “The Return Trip”
Commercial Break
Dearest Rachel – As crass as I consider it to be to acknowledge it most of the time, everything in life floats upon a sea of money. Very little in life gets done until someone gets paid – or at least is given a promise that they will. Everything costs something… no free lunch, andContinue reading “Commercial Break”
Always One More Thing
Dearest Rachel – Now that you’ve been gone for all this time, I guess it falls to me to pull the “just one more thing” routine before heading out on a trip. Bear in mind, I was in no hurry to leave today – and I’m still not. Kris was coming over to clean, andContinue reading “Always One More Thing”
Self-Indulgence and Survivor’s Guilt
Dearest Rachel – Among the many reasons why I wish you were still here, you could remind me of some of the things we did together back in the day. I have mostly vague recollections, and the occasional sharp image or phrase, but that’s about it. Sometimes, the only way I can remember when somethingContinue reading “Self-Indulgence and Survivor’s Guilt”
It’s Only Property – But it’s All We Have
Dearest Rachel – Since I was awoken this morning by the dog whimpering (he’d pooped in his sleep on the blanket yet again – I do sometimes wonder why I wash it every time he does this, as this means I’ll wind up sticking it in the laundry almost every day at this rate), thisContinue reading “It’s Only Property – But it’s All We Have”
Part Of Each Other’s World
Dearest Rachel – Years before I met you – indeed, before I even graduated from high school (although after my relationship with Chris fell apart) – I had come up with a name for my hoped-for “someone,” much like I have done these past few months with the concept of “Megumi.” While I gave itContinue reading “Part Of Each Other’s World”
I’m So Sorry, Mrs. Gecsy
Dearest Rachel – There’s a lot of wrenching decisions to be made in the process of cleaning up the house. One of those is the question of what to do with all the artwork. Like with the pictures of your family going back generations and then out several times removed, I have no emotional connectionContinue reading “I’m So Sorry, Mrs. Gecsy”
Left Over From the Move
Dearest Rachel – Rather than talk to Daniel about the people he listens to, I figured we might as well work on the stuff in his room. After all, we’re down to his room as far as the cleaning process goes. It will make more sense, and be less painful, if he’s involved in theContinue reading “Left Over From the Move”
Birthday Plans Gone Awry
Dearest Rachel – There are times when I wish I was better at writing at certain hours. The early mornings, in particular, are fairly conducive to the process, as there’s nobody up but me and the dog. Even on our busy thorough fare, cars are few and far between at this hour. I have theContinue reading “Birthday Plans Gone Awry”
I Can’t Be Overdrawn…
Dearest Rachel – Well, you know the punch to that line; I hardly have to recite it to you. The weird thing is, for the last week and a half, I’ve had the exact opposite problem – we were down to our last two or three checks. So how are we going to pay billsContinue reading “I Can’t Be Overdrawn…”
Out of the Closet
Dearest Rachel – I know you’re looking at that title; and no, it doesn’t mean that. Just take it literally, like you’re supposed to. I stayed home from the office today, because both Jan and Kris were over as part of the (seemingly) never-ending cleaning effort. I left Kris to her own devices – andContinue reading “Out of the Closet”
Problems With My Parenting
Dearest Rachel – So the folks have developed this routine of inviting us over almost every Thursday night. It’s really not unlike back in the days when you would be visiting your parents for a week, or those times you would go on women’s retreats, or any other point in which you were away fromContinue reading “Problems With My Parenting”
Three Hundred
Dearest Rachel – This is the second week in a row that Jan‘s charges for her time have amounted to three hundred dollars exactly. And like I told her last week, the thought immediately runs through my head as I look at the room that we’ve been working on for the past few hours: This!Continue reading “Three Hundred”
Of Madness And Memories
Dearest Rachel – In literature, the color yellow seems to be associated very closely with madness. There’s The King in Yellow referenced by Lovecraft, the story of “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Gilman, and so forth. I think that, in some way, it’s why Ellen chose it to serve as the color of what weContinue reading “Of Madness And Memories”
Yet Another Goodbye
Dearest Rachel – It seems the 2021 has been, is, and will be the year of losses for me. Your departure would’ve been more than enough to make it so, but of course there are all these littler ones that follow, or that are expected to follow. You’ve certainly heard plenty from me about Chompers;Continue reading “Yet Another Goodbye”
The End of Pride Month…?
Dearest Rachel – So, today is June 30th. And we all know what that means: the end of Pride Month, apparently. WordPress even got in on the act a couple of days early; their app, which has been a swirl of colors for most of the month, changed back to its standard basic blue onContinue reading “The End of Pride Month…?”
Before We Close the Lid
Dearest Rachel – I confess that there are some days where I’m still at a loss as to how to deal with Jan. She’s great fun to be around, and she pushes me to do what needs to be done. Of course, it’s that very part of her that leaves me stuck for how toContinue reading “Before We Close the Lid”
Pennies From Heaven
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday, after Mike and Linda came by to measure the kitchen for remodeling, Jan also came by to work more with me on the office. Bear in mind that this isn’t the first day we’ve been working in the office; we did get started on Monday, and spent a full dayContinue reading “Pennies From Heaven”
Fear Of Failing Memory
Dearest Rachel – People sometimes tell me I have an impressive memory. And I suppose, for the things I learned in childhood, that’s not far from the mark. I would memorize Bible verses and the like for Awana, and many of them have stayed with me just like some of them actually advertise: “Train upContinue reading “Fear Of Failing Memory”
Unaccustomed As I Am
Dearest Rachel – I’ve mentioned this before, but it is different to give these letters titles. I mean, if I were writing to you directly, a title wouldn’t make it any more eye-catching: you would read it because it came from me. No, the titles are meant to grab the eyes of those you’ve comeContinue reading “Unaccustomed As I Am”
Daily Bread
Dearest Rachel – You might remember that one of my favorite Biblical characters is a man who is only mentioned once, wrote a single chapter of Proverbs… and we know pretty much nothing else about him except his name, Agur. That, and the fact that he gave one of the most brutally honest self-evaluations ofContinue reading “Daily Bread”
Moving On Up
Dearest Rachel – Yes, we’re moving on up, to the upstairs of the split-level section of the house. Unlike the Jeffersons’ theme, I think it’s the south side of our house – I was never particularly good at orientation, and determining direction based on a compass: whatever direction I was facing, I always felt likeContinue reading “Moving On Up”
We’ll All Be Skeletons
Dearest Rachel – Today was too cool to walk around in thin white cotton, so I decided to wear one of my black shirts. Not sure why I picked this one: I’m actually thinking this might be the first time I’ve worn it in public. I know you thought we might all wear it togetherContinue reading “We’ll All Be Skeletons”
Lost Without You
Dearest Rachel – I know Daniel and I used to kid you about this all the time: we would be just about to drive away from out the house, and you would suddenly perk up: “Oh, just one more thing,” and run right back into the house, to collect something you had just forgotten about.Continue reading “Lost Without You”
Letters to Rachel 