Why do people feel the need to air themselves out in public? On a shuttle bus from the airport terminal to the parking lot, I heard most everything I really didn’t want to know about what happened to a woman on a her recent trip to meet relatives. Her partner to whom she was speaking was rather bored. I think I might have also heard a hint of embarrassment when he replied to her questions…
Ten years ago when I’d graduated and living on my own, I had this sense of powerlessness to do anything about my own financial status. I was poor. Not by standards of developing countries, of course. Nonetheless I was in debt. School loans and the costs of living weighed heavily on me. It was a stressful time and I did not sleep well. I recall one particular day many years later when I realized something…
Despite the holiday stresses, I do enjoy Christmas when weighed against what the Christmas holiday is ultimately all about. Kindness and gentleness. Acts of human nature that do not always seem to be in abundance. On occasions I catch myself thinking uncharitable thoughts about someone. Maybe they’re not driving fast enough. Or they’re driving too fast. The waiter bringing my food is incompetent. Whether these things are true or not, I know that in the…
I’ve been going to graduate school for the last three years, but I’ve been skipping the Falls semesters since I started. It always seemed that the Fall and Winter seasons are always busy and so I’ve avoided taking classes around this time of the year. This year was different. Every time you skip a semester you’re considered a drop-out and so you have to reapply to graduate school. The application fee is $50 and it…
I took a day off this past Friday to attend a friend’s wedding up in Arkansas. I worked with him in the past. Also met his now wife, when she was still his girlfriend 2 years ago. A wonderful girl. The plan was for me to get in around 6 in the evening and have dinner with my friends and her family. Of course, in my usual manner, I force my friends and her family…