Dearest Rachel – You remember my reaction to the scattering of trash on the roads of Honduras when I was down here last time, and I’d mentioned about the ‘broken windows’ theory of governance in passing a few days ago. Well, on Thursday afternoon, I’d intended to put that theory into practice while dealing withContinue reading “Meaning Well Poorly”
Tag Archives: weather
Chillier Than Expected
Dearest Rachel – When I gave my lesson to the students here the other day, one of the first things I asked them about was regarding large, long-term purchases that they would want to save up for. Most of them understood the gist of my question, and offered similar responses to those that an AmericanContinue reading “Chillier Than Expected”
Ankle Deep in the Big Muddy
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned yesterday morning about how there was a threat of rain for the day that I would be on pila duty. The morning dawned grey and something beyond overcast, although as breakfast progressed, the sun slowly made its presence known, in defiance of the weather predictions. There was this brief thoughtContinue reading “Ankle Deep in the Big Muddy”
The Hardest Part is Getting There
Dearest Rachel – I think I’ve heard this phrase about travel but, apart from leisure trip, where once you arrive, it’s nothing but rest and relaxation, I’m not sure I agree. If nothing else, flights tend to be boring and nondescript; once they’re over and done with, they almost manage to escape memory instantly (forContinue reading “The Hardest Part is Getting There”
The Last ‘Warm’ Day
Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday was the last ‘warm’ day before I leave town. From here on out, the highs – the highs, mind you – will be in the single digits Fahrenheit, if not at or below zero. I’ve heard talk about schools closing, despite the fact that it’s actually going to be tooContinue reading “The Last ‘Warm’ Day”
Where It’s Warm and Comfortable
Dearest Rachel – After having folded it up to allow Kris room to work in the bedroom when she came over to clean on Friday, I finally got around to reassembling the treadmill last night upon our return home from Sparks. I figured I would wake up early this morning, like I usually do, andContinue reading “Where It’s Warm and Comfortable”
Topless in the Snow
Dearest Rachel – I’ve discovered something curious about the treadmill I’ve bought to use here at home on days when it’s too cold or I’m otherwise unmotivated to make my way to the gym in the morning: the thing is apparently an energy vampire. Over the course of the last week, I’ve blown a fuseContinue reading “Topless in the Snow”
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”
Frozen In
Dearest Rachel – It so happens that one of the members of the praise team at the church is from Florida – in fact, she’s Brian’s niece, and therefore a relative of ours, albeit a time or two removed – and isn’t used to the weather here (to be sure, no one gets used toContinue reading “Frozen In”
Don’t Tell Me How Cold It Is
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday, I met Lars to go walking through the woods, as we do every week. This, despite the fact that it was below freezing and there was the threat of snow that day – in fact, for most of the time we were out there, we were dealing with a fairContinue reading “Don’t Tell Me How Cold It Is”
The Irony of Weekend Snow
Dearest Rachel – They tell us that we’re in for a real dose of winter starting today, and going well on into tomorrow, honey – somewhere in the neighborhood of six inches to a foot, depending on who you listen to. It’s that time of year, after all, and for all that I make anContinue reading “The Irony of Weekend Snow”
Blame it On the Rain
Dearest Rachel – Friday morning in Ginosar – yes, somewhere along the way, I seem to have lost a day – and while I keep hoping to be able to wander about the hotel campus (and maybe find the duplex we stayed in back in 2018), I’m still short on time to do so. The hourContinue reading “Blame it On the Rain”
Leaving Just In Time
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday morning, I woke up to this sight as I headed outdoors on the way to church: I suppose it shouldn’t have come as so much of a surprise; the night before had me falling asleep to the sound of rain on the bedroom roof, and it had been getting chilly asContinue reading “Leaving Just In Time”
Not So Fast
Dearest Rachel – Seven in the morning, and you’d think I’d be raring to go, especially after calling it a night at nine last night. You’d think that ten hours of sleep would allow me to recharge my internal batteries to the point where I’d be ready to take on the world first thing inContinue reading “Not So Fast”
In the Breton Island Fog
Dearest Rachel – So after a couple of days at sea – hey, at twenty-five knots, it takes a while to get anywhere from Greenland, let alone the North American continent – you might think we would be itching to get off the ship and onto dry land. And that may very well have beenContinue reading “In the Breton Island Fog”
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…”
Our First Misadventure
Dearest Rachel – It’s said that it’s the misadventures that make the memories when you’re traveling (yes, I rather realize I’m effectively quoting myself; that doesn’t make it any less true). If that’s so, Daniel and I may have finally given ourselves a memorable trip to London, even as it’s short and limited in anyContinue reading “Our First Misadventure”
A Few Hours of Darkness
Dearest Rachel – I’ve written to you about power outages before, and most of them have been short-lived and short-ranged, while still leaving one contemplating about just how dependent we are on electricity for just about everything. This one was a little of both, and a little of neither. For starters, I showed up atContinue reading “A Few Hours of Darkness”
Rattle Around in Your Bones
Dearest Rachel – I hardly need to refresh your memory that summer is Daniel’s least favorite season. Despite this being common knowledge between us, he will often complain about the heat – and I can’t say as I blame him; it’s at least ten, and possibly as much as twenty degrees hotter up here thanContinue reading “Rattle Around in Your Bones”
Primera Mañana
Dearest Rachel – I’m not sure what you would’ve thought of this place, honey. I’m still trying to get used to it myself. After yesterday’s travels (particularly the obscenely early start to the day), I retired at what might otherwise be considered a ridiculous hour of nine o’clock, but which you might have at least beenContinue reading “Primera Mañana”
Sleeping Weather
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday, while I was at the ‘office,’ Logan sent a text to me about there being water on the floor in the basement, both in the utility room and the half-bathroom that rarely ever gets used by any of us. Maybe Daniel was taking a bath upstairs, and he felt the needContinue reading “Sleeping Weather”
The Chill and the Damp
Dearest Rachel – When April showers May come your way They bring the flowers That bloom in May That’s all well and good, but what’s to be said about the showers that come in May? Does this mean they’re deferring the blossoms until June or something? And if they are, that’s not necessarily a goodContinue reading “The Chill and the Damp”
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”
A Little More Sun
Dearest Rachel – It would seem that this morning exercise routine, reluctant though I am to follow it, is something of a self-perpetuating cycle. I put in some seven-plus miles on the treadmill yesterday, and by nine o’clock, I was as ready to fall asleep in my chair than actually bother with watching another videoContinue reading “A Little More Sun”
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”
The Luxurious Option
Dearest Rachel – I often used to say, somewhat in jest (but not entirely) that when we got sick, the three of us would wind up dealing with the same amount of cold over different time periods. Whereas I would be essentially incapacitated for a 24-hour period, and Daniel would feel pretty poorly for aContinue reading “The Luxurious Option”
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”
Limits to My Adaptation
Dearest Rachel – Not to brag or anything, but I didn’t expect to be able, let alone willing, to hit the ground running (well, walking uphill really fast, anyway) upon returning from the cruise with Lars. After all, it wasn’t as if I spent any appreciable time in the gym aboard the ship, despite itContinue reading “Limits to My Adaptation”
I Can Feel It In My Bones
Dearest Rachel – I think there are certain things about life that you don’t – can’t, even – figure out until you reach a certain age. When I was a kid, for instance, it absolutely puzzled me that my grandfather (and later, my father) could fall asleep in his rocker-recliner, despite it being in theContinue reading “I Can Feel It In My Bones”
Cold Cranking
Dearest Rachel – Despite having woken up with a dream in my head, I’m going to write you about the reality of the day. The thing is, my dream was about finding a cache of letters you had written to Junior’s daughters upon being asked to be their godmother, which I know never happened. Oh,Continue reading “Cold Cranking”
Solved in an Instant
Dearest Rachel – Well, it’s not as if it’s the most interesting that could be told, but it’s pretty much the only storyline that’s been going on around me for the last couple of days, so it will have to do; the conclusion (maybe?) to the whole saga of me getting myself basically locked inContinue reading “Solved in an Instant”
Frozen in Place
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a while, but it’s it’s not as if this hasn’t happened before of a winter morning. Yesterday, after texting the folks that I was on my way (and pleased with myself at getting closer to nine o’clock every day for the past week), I got in the car, turned theContinue reading “Frozen in Place”
Dusting Upon Dusting
Dearest Rachel – Supposedly, it’s that time of the year; when the snow falls in such great quantities that it piles up chest-high on either side of the road, especially on the driveways once they’ve been shoveled clear (or at least, mostly clear – one can never quite get all the way down to theContinue reading “Dusting Upon Dusting”
The Lethargy of the Cold
Dearest Rachel – What is it about Beach Night at Sparks that causes it to always be on the coldest night of the year? To be sure, it’s usually scheduled like this in the middle of January – presumably because, like that song about needing a little Christmas, everyone needs a little of the tropicsContinue reading “The Lethargy of the Cold”
Ice Ice Baby
Dearest Rachel – It’s another one of those mornings where I have to wonder what there is to talk to you about today. There’s nothing particularly interesting about the day to come, and there’s no progress being made on the long-term stuff, either. Indeed, it was dismaying to find that I’d regressed to where I’dContinue reading “Ice Ice Baby”
Cause and Effect?
Dearest Rachel – I know I’ve touched on the subject even since the new year began; for all I know, you’re tired of hearing about it. But as it’s a long-term goal that will take several years yet to fully accomplish (let alone what reaching what this goal is meant to result in), you’ll justContinue reading “Cause and Effect?”
The Extra ⅔ Mile
Dearest Rachel – The last couple of mornings have seen me awake with a little more time on my hands; enough time not only to go work out and get back before I’d be expected to be anywhere as part of what constitutes a “routine” for the day (let’s face it; the “routine” for aContinue reading “The Extra ⅔ Mile”
Heating the Room
Dearest Rachel – I mentioned the other day the difficulties I’d been having with the wall-mounted space heater, and that I had acquired a small, portable model for where I sit and watch television (and do some computer work – the watching distracts me, though, as I’m sure you could relate, so not much actuallyContinue reading “Heating the Room”
Explanation or Justification?
Dearest Rachel – There’s a few things that have been building up to this latest decision (or would it be a combination of decisions?) that I might as well reiterate to put it into context. Not that it needs to be justified to you; I think we both agreed that we were looking forward toContinue reading “Explanation or Justification?”
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”
Taking the Chariot
Dearest Rachel – Setting aside the whole process of building up my initial motivation every morning – which basically consists of stepping on the scale and realizing I’m back over a line I’d just as soon put in my rear view mirror – my workout routine has basically become a matter of ascertaining and pushingContinue reading “Taking the Chariot”
The Cold Shock That Shouldn’t Be
Dearest Rachel – Between the fact that I spent the better part of an hour refusing to concede that I had bobbed to consciousness for the day, and the actual time I took collecting and arranging myself to walk the (now officially measured) third of a mile to the fitness center this morning, you’d thinkContinue reading “The Cold Shock That Shouldn’t Be”
Considerations of Timing
Dearest Rachel – I thought it was the wind waking me up this morning around four, like it has been for the last few days. It’s been blowing pretty hard in the mornings, and with it whipping all manner of leaves up throughout the neighborhood, it often sounds like rain against the roof and wallsContinue reading “Considerations of Timing”
Any Topic But This
Dearest Rachel – Another day, another morning where I’d just as soon stay in bed. It’s gray and dreary out, despite the extra light provided at this hour by moving the clocks back in the wee hours of yesterday, and while it’s not exactly cold out – in fact, this is as warm as it’sContinue reading “Any Topic But This”
Listening To The Rain
Dearest Rachel – I opened my eyes this morning to the usual darkness; there wasn’t much for me to see, even if I were to bother to put my glasses on. I didn’t even bother to check the time first, as I could hear the rain on the bedroom roof. It didn’t sound as ifContinue reading “Listening To The Rain”
Slapped By the Sun
Dearest Rachel – I’m told that, within the last day or two, we got slapped by the sun. Or maybe we’re going to be; I’m not sure how it works. Apparently, there was this huge solar flare yesterday afternoon (our time; I’m not sure how that works for the sun), although I could swear I’veContinue reading “Slapped By the Sun”
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”
Rough Start
Dearest Rachel – It occurs to me that, if you were still around, and I was doing the same thing that I’m doing now (which, I’ll be honest, seems unlikely, as why would I need to change for you?), I don’t think I’d be talking as much about my workout regimen, as it wouldn’t exactlyContinue reading “Rough Start”
Dreams of Dixie
Dearest Rachel – I dreamed of Dixie last night. I’m not entirely sure why. I don’t hold to the romanticism of the Lost Cause – or any lost cause, for that matter. I try my level best to forget the girls I had crushes on (and behaved as stupidly over them as any mid-teen boyContinue reading “Dreams of Dixie”
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”
I Don’t Like Piña Coladas, Either
Dearest Rachel – A few years ago, there was this song that was part of the top 40 repertoire whose chorus began with “if you like piña coladas / and getting caught in the rain…” I never bothered to look further into it, since as far as I was concerned, it was nothing but anContinue reading “I Don’t Like Piña Coladas, Either”
It Takes More Than Just Sweat
Dearest Rachel – It’s been a very hot weekend, honey. Not just outside – which has indeed been hot, getting well up into the 90s – but inside as well. On Friday, Logan pointed out that the pipes for the air conditioner had frost all over them, and when I called the HVAC people toContinue reading “It Takes More Than Just Sweat”
The Sands of the Desert
Dearest Rachel – I seem to recall a phrase, used metaphorically in terms of the permanence of one’s love, that it would continue “until the sands of the desert grow cold.” My first exposure to the phrase – and its context – was a single-frame Peanuts cartoon in which Lucy is calling to an out-of-shotContinue reading “The Sands of the Desert”
This, Too, Will Pass
Dearest Rachel – At a top speed of twenty-five knots, you might be able to guess that, as the Serenade of the Seas moves through the water, it generates a fair amount of wind against my balcony door. And for whatever reason, the door doesn’t seal tightly, causing a bit of a rattling noise whenContinue reading “This, Too, Will Pass”
The Sea You Always Wanted
Dearest Rachel – Maybe this was due to us having to charge out, hell bent for leather, from the Bay of Islands in order to make up for lost time in our attempts to stick to the original schedule. Maybe it was a cell of bad weather than the captain simply couldn’t navigate around (atContinue reading “The Sea You Always Wanted”
Not What I Expected
Dearest Rachel – After nearly a week at sea, I wake up this morning and grab my phones, only to realize that they don’t agree anymore. The old, shattered one is still working on Hawaii time, while my actual phone has just now updated itself to be presumably in line with the local time. WhyContinue reading “Not What I Expected”
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?”
What the Camera Can’t Catch
Dearest Rachel – I think it was one of the early Torchwood episodes – you’d actually remember it better than I would, since you were the Doctor Who fan of the family – that had a character wear a pair of contact lenses that would essentially livestream what they were seeing to the main groupContinue reading “What the Camera Can’t Catch”
Frozen, Not Forgotten
Dearest Rachel – Forgive me, honey, but I didn’t put out the garbage this week. The thing is, it’s not that I forgot to, as such… …it’s that it wouldn’t have mattered. You’ve heard me tell you several times over the past few days about how it’s been so absurdly cold, right? And of course, up untilContinue reading “Frozen, Not Forgotten”
What Can You Do About the Weather?
Dearest Rachel – I’m pretty sure he wasn’t the first one to say it, but Mark Twain might have at least been responsible for popularizing the saying that “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” To be sure, it isn’t as if there’s a whole lot one can do about it; apartContinue reading “What Can You Do About the Weather?”
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…”
For the Sake of the Goal
Dearest Rachel – It’s not unprecedented, mind you, but it’s admittedly unseasonal for December to start off in the mid-forties, especially before the sun has risen. It really should be colder out, especially since it’s still dark. I don’t think I’ll even need a jacket as I head off to the gym – which isContinue reading “For the Sake of the Goal”
It Happens Every Year, But…
Dearest Rachel – I realize that this really doesn’t qualify as the ‘first’ snow of the year; we’d already seen a handful of flakes on Halloween (I’d even taken a picture with them suspended in air, which, to be fair, doesn’t convey the same effect as when you’re standing there with them falling – orContinue reading “It Happens Every Year, But…”
Thoughts In Recovery
Dearest Rachel – I hope that you’ll forgive me if this morning, my letter turns out to be considerably more fragmented than the last couple I’ve sent you. After committing more than four thousand words to… not paper, exactly… text, I suppose? it shouldn’t come as any surprise that anything I might say now isContinue reading “Thoughts In Recovery”
Heat
Dearest Rachel – Given its immense breadth – from the depths of absolute zero, where motion stills, even down to the subatomic level, to the eight- and nine-figure temperatures of stellar cores – it’s amazing to think about how little of the range of temperature is comfortable for us humans, or even survivable. With properContinue reading “Heat”
Ignoring the Thunder
Dearest Rachel – King Solomon wrote about how there would be days like this as he grew older; how he would “rise at the sound of a bird,” even as he could barely hear “the daughters of song.” This morning started with what sounded to me like the noise of movers on the roof, rollingContinue reading “Ignoring the Thunder”
Electric Summer
Dearest Rachel – Yesterday morning, I was carrying my cereal bowl into the dining/family room to eat breakfast – I’ve never really managed to find a good, comfortable place to set myself down in the kitchen on one of those bar stool chairs I’d gotten shortly after the remodeling was completed, and the fact thatContinue reading “Electric Summer”
A Brighter Day
Dearest Rachel – Outdoors, it’s a big change from yesterday. The sun is shining brightly; in fact, it’s beating down pretty fiercely, even as it approaches five in the afternoon – and just think, it hasn’t been too many months since it was ‘in the evening,’ or even ‘at night.’ And while I won’t sayContinue reading “A Brighter Day”
A Bit of a Mess
Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday we went out on walkabout before our tour; today that’s definitely not going to be possible today, as our tour starts almost as soon as we’re docked and cleared to get off the ship. We will, however, have a good four or five hours before the ship leaves, in orderContinue reading “A Bit of a Mess”
The Wolves are Never at the Door
Dearest Rachel – For the last couple of days, the folks have been watching the news and listening to the weather report. Actually, that’s not quite accurate, as they’ve been doing this fairly consistently all my life. Indeed, one of the last things I would do with them every night when I was a kidContinue reading “The Wolves are Never at the Door”
It Happens Every February
Dearest Rachel – You might or might not remember it, but Bill Engvall used to do a routine about how we humans (news folk and weather forecasters in particular) have the shortest memories, particularly when it comes to recurring events, like the change in seasons. In Texas, where he came from, it was guaranteed that,Continue reading “It Happens Every February”
I Still Need to Get Out More
Dearest Rachel – I hear the occasional comment about how unusual our weather is this winter, but I can’t say that I’ve seen any real evidence of it. For instance, I’ve heard that last month has the least amount of sunlight for January since we’ve been keeping track of that; I have no idea howContinue reading “I Still Need to Get Out More”
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”
Hunkering Down
Dearest Rachel – Nature Seems to Know As we started out on our customary walk yesterday, Lars wondered aloud what the odds would be of spotting wildlife in the woods over the next few miles and hours. Since we’d seen a few deer last week – and the trees were by now completely denuded, leavingContinue reading “Hunkering Down”
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”
Bolt From the Black
Dearest Rachel – It was half past three; I checked almost immediately after it happened. My mind was just wrapping up a dream about a flight that was forced to land in the packing lot of our church’s Des Plaines campus when there was this thunderous explosion, as if it was coming directly from ourContinue reading “Bolt From the Black”
Wandering Through the Aftermath
Dearest Rachel – The breeze is cool this morning as I step outside, or at least, it’s cool for the month of August. The sun, while exulting in its complete dominance of a cloudless sky, and intense enough that I need to maintain a near-permanent squint as I make my way east across shadeless sectionsContinue reading “Wandering Through the Aftermath”
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”
If You Can’t Take the Heat…
Dearest Rachel – Of course, the standard follow-up to that proposition is that you need to ‘get out of the kitchen.’ That, along with the expression about the buck stopping with him were among the most quotable lines from President Harry Truman (partly because much of what he said had to be sanitized for publicContinue reading “If You Can’t Take the Heat…”
No Choice But to Continue
Dearest Rachel – You would probably be pleased note I stayed awake during the entire two hour run of Anime Hell; no need for you to nudge me awake as I nodded off (a good thing, since you weren’t there to do so – I know now how those folks we would always see scatteredContinue reading “No Choice But to Continue”
Insurance Against the Heat
Dearest Rachel – I’m sure you can guess, after yesterday’s letter, that I slept with the ceiling fan on. Indeed, I woke up so grateful for it – and for the misadventure brought it to be there. You know, I started this series of the letters as a form of therapy, but also as aContinue reading “Insurance Against the Heat”
Suddenly Summer
Dearest Rachel – It’s a commonly-held truism here in the Chicago area (and, now that I think about it, throughout the Midwest – so you’d be just as familiar with it as I) that “if you don’t like the weather around here, just wait five minutes.” It’s an exaggeration to make a humorous point, ofContinue reading “Suddenly Summer”
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…”
Spring Thaw and Mardi Gras
Dearest Rachel – It seems blasphemous to say it, but sometimes, I’m convinced that the Proverbs I read every morning ought to start with the phrase ‘as a general rule…’ Considering that the man who was inspired to write them was also later inspired to write Ecclesiastes, which, while not directly contradicting some of hisContinue reading “Spring Thaw and Mardi Gras”
Forecasting Follies
Dearest Rachel – Aside from the fact that I don’t want the responsibility – and cannot fathom why anybody else would – I have certain… ideas… that probably would suggest that I shouldn’t be trusted with the reins of any sort of power. I’m not a big fan of the psychic community, for instance. Personally,Continue reading “Forecasting Follies”
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!”
Heartbreaking Snow
Dearest Rachel – Readers’ Digest was fond of saying that ‘laughter is the best medicine,’ but this story from the regular feature of that name, like most medicines, comes off rather bitter these days. The story goes that an older gentleman was looking out over his snow-covered driveway, and turned to his teenage son toContinue reading “Heartbreaking Snow”
Imagine Storms
Dearest Rachel – Another long night, another dream – or series of dreams – that might otherwise make sense except for the timing, the location, the cast, and the fact that I was constantly looking for my phone to take pictures of it all, only to find that it was nowhere near me (which, asContinue reading “Imagine Storms”
“Drives Through Storms”
Dearest Rachel – I think it must’ve happened while we were still courting; probably after we were engaged, but definitely while you were still living with your parents. I had planned to drive down to see you, despite reports of severe weather between the Chicago area and Macomb. I don’t think it was serious whereContinue reading ““Drives Through Storms””
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”
Don’t Snow Me In
Dearest Rachel – For all the problems that I have with the secular version of Christmas, particularly the music that invokes thoughts of loved ones (who are, of course, no longer with us), I am always reminded that it could be worse – I could live in Japan. There, as you know, Christmas is aContinue reading “Don’t Snow Me In”
Too Early on a Saturday
Dearest Rachel – I don’t know if it’s that I haven’t acclimatized myself to the time zone, or just that I fell asleep too early while Daniel and Logan were in the family room watching this or that. Maybe it’s just the wind, whipping around outside the bedroom; since there are windows on three sidesContinue reading “Too Early on a Saturday”
And I Say, “It’s All Right”
Dearest Rachel – Well, after two whole days of barely acknowledging us, it seems that the sun is back, and it’s nice to see him. Even if he is in my face in either direction that I walk. Not that that’s a complaint I’m ever going to take up with my grandchildren: “You kids haveContinue reading “And I Say, “It’s All Right””
As Far as the East is From the West
Dearest Rachel – As much as we grew up with pastors and Sunday School teachers reminding us that “the Bible is not a science textbook” with regard to poetic turns of phrase like references to the sun rising or the four corners of the earth, sometimes it’s amazing to note the choice of words thatContinue reading “As Far as the East is From the West”
Letters to Rachel 