Making Sense of Immigration as I feel like One

Buongiorno dal mio piccolo caffè mattutino ad Ascoli Piceno, I am back for my morning cappuccino, shot of water, and croissant. It must have rained during the night or earlier this morning, as there were puddles all around and the stones were beyond a little slippery for this aging person. However, as I walked downContinue reading “Making Sense of Immigration as I feel like One”

Back after 38 Years

Hello from my flight to Amsterdam, This will be my first time to be in Amsterdam in an fashion. It is a city that I have always wanted to visit, and yes, for many of the reasons everyone hears of, but it is another country to add to my list of places traveled. As IContinue reading “Back after 38 Years”

Prayers Answered

Hello from Costa on ulica Karmelicka, It is always interesting to return to somewhere you have been before. The change in perception that occurs from familiarity is a difficult thing to quantify, and if the return is more than once, understanding the changes that occur go beyond mere perception to emotion. I think of howContinue reading “Prayers Answered”

The War to End All Wars

Hello from a Starbucks in Selinsgrove, Hiding away and working, but trying to imagine the feelings of not only the important players on the stage in France 100 years ago, but also the simple people, those in France where much of the carnage of a trench war was fought to the families who lost lovedContinue reading “The War to End All Wars”

What Does It Take?

Hello from about 35,000 feet and above the Colorado/Utah border, perhaps a little west. It has been some time since I’ve made a cross-country trek, either by air or land; in fact, it is the closest I’ve been to Placerville since shortly following Lydia’s passing. I believe that is the longest stretch of time awayContinue reading “What Does It Take?”

Observing Responses to Greatness and Humility

Good Saturday evening, I am back in my office needing to work on a multitude of things, but my mind cannot get the images of so many who attended the funeral of the Honorable Late Senator John S. McCain III and the resounding tribute about a human being who epitomized the serving of a causeContinue reading “Observing Responses to Greatness and Humility”

The World is a Provocative Place

Hello from Richmond, I would like to take credit for the title, but it is something I heard someone say on NPR the other day, and it stuck with me. I think what causes me pause is to ask a question of whether one could always make such an argument or whether the degree toContinue reading “The World is a Provocative Place”

When Geography Becomes a Place

Hello from Starbucks, I am in another Starbucks and I know that it is more than merely another trip to the green mermaid branded coffee shop, in spite of that fact I have not been in this individual Starbucks before. As I walk in I see the familiar colors, the familiar layout, the typical boardContinue reading “When Geography Becomes a Place”

Trying to Comprehend

Hello from Starbucks in the Library, While I hope that the propensity for being thought provoking, and by extension somewhat political, in this fractured world has not merely offended, it seems increasingly more difficult to stand on the sidelines while at least two branches of our government seem intent on destroying the other. For meContinue reading “Trying to Comprehend”

Unexpected Travel

Hello from the Capitol of Canada, In spite of many travels, and a couple of previous journeys to what I have referred to as “East Detroit,” more accurately called Windsor, I have never really been to Canada. However, on a cold winter night, that seems somewhat reminiscent of a Wisconsin or Minnesota January, I amContinue reading “Unexpected Travel”