Category: In Which We Set Ourselves Up for Mockery

Since I made the appointment with the counselor two weeks ago, I’ve cried only once. I suppose this is like when you schedule a haircut, prompting your hair to look as cute as possible. The last bout of tears was when we were driving to see Ken in the hospital. Gary was relating how Ken…

So we got home from the emergency room yesterday (Gary’s 91 year old dad has pnuemonia) to find out that my brother in Albuquerque is having emergency surgery. So, two family members in the valley of the shadow of death. Taking a personal day, though. My first day off so far this year. I need…

Well, I was going to delay any therapy until I spoke with the neurologist, but an epic fight yesterday clarified what I’ve been so upset about since last August: I miss my Mom. I miss my Dad, too. Frankly, I miss anyone who is isn’t emotional, because I look at all family members, blood and…

My parents had a very limited music collection. Two Pete Seeger albums, a Four Tops album I never listened to, two Christmas albums (Burl Ives and Goodyear), Debussy’s La Mer, and the soundtrack for My Fair Lady. No one ever had to out My Fair Lady on the turntable because I whenever I was alone…

Days like today I wish I were an emotional person, able to fling myself wholehearted to one side of a debate or another, instead of someone who keeps asking why. “Why?” is not a good question to ask today. There are images I want to forget. I want to forget the livestream of Michael Brown’s…

Greetings From St. Louis. I was at a bar last night and the conversation at my table and the table next to me was Ferguson. Some day I’ll tell you about all the pies we’ve been baking, but in keeping with the Media it’s all Ferguson all the time. The Reason Why We Can’t All…

Just the other night I had one of my delightful dreams about Mom. And, as always, a few minutes in it occurs to me that she’s dead. “Wait. Mom, didn’t you die five years ago. Remember? The hospital and the hospice, and the mortuary wheeling you out the front door?” “Oh, you crazy kid. You…

The before: The after! Look at the air! The vacancy! The stark nothingness! Everything I own now fits on one wall. The past twenty seven years. I’m like a freaking Buddhist, man! The pure of heart can see Mom in the corner, approving, Honestly, I feel like I just bought a new house. We still…

A slightly freaky thing happened at the concert last night. Gavin DeGraw, who we agreed was the most engaging of all the acts, got teary musing on stage about the Connecticut killings. He said how outraged he was. The crowd applauded in support. He said he was angry. The crowd applauded in support. He said…

I keep having this conversation with co-workers. Coworker: “All I know is there are too many entitled people out there. I don’t want somebody with a cell phone taking my hard earned money to buy themselves video games and then buy steak with food stamps paid for with my taxes.” Then inevitably, they go on.…