Vulnerable seniors. Douglas struggled with the knowledge that this phrase applied to him. Except when he looked in the mirror, he thought of himself as a man in his thirties, or occasionally, a teenager of eighteen or nineteen, with a whole life to look forward to. But no, here he was, turning seventy, married for … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 196
Together
Every time there is a flood, wildfire, hurricane - afterward, some folks decide to express their perspective that the victims are somehow to blame. Why do they live close to the ocean? Why did they rebuild there after the last flood? Fires come every summer, what were they thinking? Leaving aside, for now, how little … Continue reading Together
Service
A few thoughts on leadership: As we look to leaders on all levels - in our towns and counties, our state, our nation, our world - what we crave is the visible demonstration of commitment to service. There is so much uncertainty, every leader and decision-maker will err. No one will call every shot perfectly. … Continue reading Service
Pine Street Episode 195
Leo’s cell phone interrupted his meditation on loss. He shifted Precious to the porch so he could dig it out of his pocket. “Hello?” “Leo, it’s David.” Leo’s heart lurched. Douglas, David’s father, was in the hospital. “David, is everything okay? Is it your dad?” “No. I mean, yes. Dad’s okay, for now. No change. … Continue reading Pine Street Episode 195
Earth day
Honoring Mother Earth means caring for the human, animal, and plant family she sustains. Our beautiful blue planet is not a source to exploit; it is a source to nourish, and celebrate. Today, sharing the Dalai Lama's Earth Day message: "Our mother earth is teaching us a lesson in universal responsibility. This blue planet is … Continue reading Earth day
Faith, hope, and charity
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I wrote a series of short stories inspired by "faith, hope, and charity" - the cardinal virtues. More recently, in watching the documentary "The Roosevelts," I heard this quote from FDR's acceptance speech at the 1936 Democratic convention: "We do not see faith, hope and … Continue reading Faith, hope, and charity
Pine Street Episode 194
Leo hears Marilyn's voice, too, and receives the message of disruption: the chance to shed what we did not realize we could live without.
The interdependence of life
Last night we watched a Nature special on the wildlife of Cuba. Beautiful, funny, terrifying. (I'd forgotten how these depictions of animal life always include the element of menace: a baby sea turtle, hours old, madly paddling her way across the sand to the ocean, the deep water that is, for her, relative safety; we … Continue reading The interdependence of life
Pine Street Episode 193: The Disruption
Our Pine Street regulars begin to confront the disruption that has come their way.
Any way the wind blows
Spring in my town is like this: sunrainwindhailsunrainsleetsunwind, windwindwindwindwin, sun. Sometimes, that's all in one day. This pandemic is like that too, highs and lows and everything in between, all in a single day. Good news = sun, bad news = rain, that cough I have every spring due to allergies = a hailstorm of … Continue reading Any way the wind blows
