I have had the occasion over the past few days to talk to several people who are in pain. In one case, a parent is worried about an adult child who is having serious issues; in another, a friend is worried about another friend who is terminally ill. Worry is the operative word here. Worry…
Category: Flash essay
On Joy
Yesterday, I presented my thoughts on happiness to the best of my ability for what time I had allotted to that activity. Today’s topic is joy. Please note these are simply my musings, not words I think are written in stone. When I write this, I am aware that there will be many points that…
On Happiness
One of my friends asked if I would write my thoughts about happiness and joy. I have undertaken that task and have discovered that I need to break these topics into two separate essays; otherwise, I’m afraid I will not explore them to the level that will feel satisfying to me or to you, my…
Rich Versus Poor, What Makes the Real Difference?
Sometimes money is not what it’s cracked up to be. I have met some of the poorest rich people and some of the richest poor people. The key seems to be to have an external focus. Self absorption does not a lovely person make. An example of a poverty-stricken rich man was someone I had…
Bach, Rain and Luna: 3 Of My Favorite Things
I am sitting in my living room, listening to J.S. Bach’s Oboe Concerto in F featuring F. Heinz Holliger. The air is cool wafting in from the open French door since we had a good steady rain a couple of hours ago. The road out front is quiet. A Sunday evening with most people around…
Beethoven at the Hollywood Bowl
We were lucky enough to be invited by our neighbor, Linda Homer, to the Hollywood Bowl tonight for a picnic and then a whole evening of Beethoven performed by the LA Phil. Linda had three extra tickets so we invited our daughter Rachael to join us, as well. The seats were close to the front…
Failure and Success
I thought by the time I was in my early 60’s, I would have accomplished all sorts of impressive things. Surely, I’d have made lots of money, seen the world, had a successful career, raised lovely children, had a successful marriage and published at least three books. Here I am at 62 and I can…
Back Home
Tonight we are back home in LA in a quiet house. We have been very busy working and traveling and entertaining for the past several weeks so the calm of our home feels good. We have returned to our guilty pleasure at present: binge watching older television series. Right now we are watching the 1st…
Hollywood Tonight
Tonight we headed to Hollywood with our Texas guests. We went to the El Capitan movie theater, a restored old movie house of the first order, to see Inside Out, complete with a pre-movie stage show. This is the only theater I’ve ever visited where they have dancers who do a show that augments the…
Baby #2 On His Way
We are pleased to relay the news that our daughter, Sarah, and her husband, Gregorio, are expecting another child, a son, due in January, 2016. This will be Luna’s brother and there should be about 2 3/4 years between them. Sarah has just reached the end of her first trimester. She is still suffering from…
20 Minutes a Day 