Original anecdotes, commentary, rumination, and occasional pontification.
JULY 12, 2024 – After waking up this morning, I crept downstairs, and tiptoed into the dining where I’d left my “like new” MacBrook Pro overnight. It was on the dining room table and plugged in, but from six feet away I could see the charging light wasn’t on. Bad sign, and sure enough, when …
MARCH 9, 2023 – At the outset of last year’s personally notable medical expedition, I experienced unusual anxiety. Physically, I was feeling, well, not so well. The worst occurred when my side of the earth was turned away from our local star, and the worst of the worst was when I climbed into bed each …
FEBRUARY 9, 2023 – Blogger’s note: I apologize for the length of this post, but it’s nothing in contrast with the duration of suffering that will prevail in Turkey-Syria long after fading from our headlines. Yesterday I sat for my deposition by two New Jersey attorneys. In the prep session the day before, my lawyer …
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 – Blogger’s note: Photo credit to my cousin, Russ Gordon, who, coincidentally, sent me the image early this morning–from Zermatt, Switzerland. (Cont.) Today I hiked a mile to my scale model of Switzerland—Como Golf Course in St. Paul—and from the summit of “St. Moritz,” admired the distinctive profile of the “Matterhorn.” It was …
SEPTEMBER 5, 2022 – (Cont.) “My rash is so gross,” I said to Kristie, my nurse again today, “I can’t stand to see myself in the mirror.” “As a science person,” she said, “I don’t see gross. I see science.” And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what distinguishes me, the “grossed-out” patient, from these incredible …
SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 – (Cont.) It’s not what I’d pictured. The hospital room, I mean, where most likely I’ll be until Tuesday—Day 14. It’s a luxury suite with a commanding view of Mississippi River, as it wends its way between Minneapolis and St. Paul. If I’m still a little seasick, I’m in the best care …
SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 – (Cont.) When one is far out at sea, beyond the reference points of land, each day mimics another, except for the clockwork and declination of sun, moon and stars. This morning I slipped out of bed extra early for a 6:15 appointment with the Angels of the University. In the glow …
AUGUST 25, 2022 – (Cont.) Roll back yesterday’s “video” of my LAX – LGA flight after take-off, climbing out of L.A. Having repeated my silent entreaty to the aviation gods for a “safe and uneventful take-off, a safe and uneventful flight, and a safe and uneventful landing” (four times, for extra efficacy–after all, airline safety …
AUGUST 14, 2022 – (Cont.) This morning when I arrived at the clinic for my third of five injections in the run-up to the stem-cell “harvest,” street parking was wide open. I luxuriated first by pulling into the slot closest to the entrance to the five-story U of MN Masonic Cancer Care Center. I indulged …
JANUARY 26, 2022 – Every child, it seems, is put on the earth to bring grief, sorrow, heartbreak and yes . . . love and sweet joy to the child’s parents. Lately, I’ve been thinking about this combination of feelings for which I’m responsible. My parents have resided outside the instant realm for a while …
JANUARY 24, 2022 – Woods are fraught. Little Red Riding Hood nearly met her doom there, as did other “Grimm” characters. Belleau Wood is where U.S. Marines were baptized by fire in WW I and in the Ardennes Forest a later generation of U.S. soldiers battled the last German offensive of WW II. We still refer …
JANUARY 18, 2022 – My path is rocky but overshadowed by the suffering of worthier souls. Suddenly, I’m racing down a superhighway of collective pain, and I wonder . . .What’s the purpose and destination of such an expressway? I grip the wheel so hard it breaks from the steering column. Upon the high-speed obstacle …
JANUARY 14, 2022 – Our DNA evolved to accommodate “fight” when our ancestors dropped from the trees of Africa. The word still describes a central element of our personalities—individual and societal. “Fight,” some argue, is as essential to our survival as is “flight.” I harbor hope, however, that we’ll evolve enough socially and emotionally to …
JANUARY 6, 2022 – In his later years, my father, who loved music as much as any human being could, was fond of quoting Charles Munch, who said, “Music expresses the inexpressible.” Dad’s frequent description of music this way revealed much about his emotional depth, because he was actually supremely gifted at expressing himself in …
NOVEMBER 14, 2021 – Snow fell overnight and stuck. It was a warm-up (“cool-down”?) for what lies ahead. I used to feel excited and frustrated with the first snow—excited by the approaching ski season; frustrated that the first dusting of snow wouldn’t be skiable. In my (halcyon) dinosaur days, winter couldn’t last long enough. With …
MAY 19, 2021 – Over years I’ve experienced episodic lower back pain—sometimes severe. I’m not alone. In searching for relief, I discovered that 80% of people older than 18 experience back trouble. A deeper dive reveals that among other maladies and dysfunctionalities, lower back pain is killing us. I wonder if other vertebrates experience “lower …