City Slickers Revisited: yesterday, July 4th. Remember the movie City Slickers? Billy Crystal as the ‘Dude’ from Manhattan who persuades two Manhattan friends to join him on a cattle drive in the west? Although the movie was released over thirty years ago, certain scenes and characters remain vivid. Especially the yuppies with the mid-life crises […]
City Slickers Revisited-Up Close and Personal Read More »
Only 3 essential qualities for writers? Just 3? Actually no, there are probably about 100 but this morning, there are just 3 essential qualities for writers that pop into my head this morning: The two paradoxical thoughts about just how well we write. I doubt that I’m the only writer who believes that on the
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Us versus them: the deliciousness of moral outrage Moral outrage: Is there anything more satisfying, captivating or delicious? “Do you believe what he said?” “Did you see what he wrote?” “Look what she is wearing!” It’s endless, isn’t it? Even before the advent of social media- if any of us can recall back that far,
Us Versus Them: The Deliciousness of Moral Outrage Read More »
A quick search on the internet reveals something staggering. If not calamitous. At least for those in search of wisdom and truth. Those responsible for the university curricula have capitulated to a minority. It is always a minority who claim that the dead white guy be absent from their studies. I write ‘calamitous’ because a
Wisdom from One of the Dead White Guys Read More »
Despite the fact that it sometimes feels as if everyone has written, or plans to write, a book, I have just one writer friend. She also writes fiction. Had my friend Rachel not put Rebecca and me together, I doubt we’d ever have met. Even in our small valley each of us tends to stick
My Writer Friend on Why We Write Read More »
Listening to Seymour. Do you mean the dog Seymour? That Seymour? I do. You most likely know that dogs don’t talk. Well, in a language easily understood as English. And yet, most of us dog lovers get to understand cries, barks, and stares with remarkable accuracy. I do that too. But occasionally, I stop listening
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The seduction of noise. Do an online search and you can see a 21st century way of conceptualizing our addiction to distraction: noise pollution. Researchers have studied the effects of noise pollution and discovered its surprisingly broad impact upon adults and children. But the subject of this piece is even more insidious. Truthfully, is there any
The Seduction of Noise: Advice From the 5th Century Read More »
The real reason we work: it’s the awe we’re after The real reason we work isn’t what we think, it’s the awe we’re after, not the money. If asked what our primary motivation to work would be, most of us say, “I work for money.” But are you sure that’s it? Money is good, right,
The Real Reason We Work: It’s the Awe We’re After Read More »
Why do you pray? “Why do you pray?” “Because it is the only way I can figure out who I am.” My surprising response to my friend’s rhetorical question was heartfelt Perhaps it was too weighty to be understood by one who had not, like me, chosen to spend a large segment of their life
Perfect timing. Does such a thing exist outside of Tom Brady’s perfectly thrown and received football passes? Or Steph Curry’s three point basketball shots? Or does such a thing as perfect timing really exist? Perhaps, or if not perfect, nearly so. But of even of more interest to you and me is that the timing
Perfect Timing: Are You Lark, Owl or Third Bird? Read More »