What cities do you want to visit?
Flying over San Diego, I saw in the distance the Coronado Bridge traversing the San Diego Bay. The sunlight of mid-afternoon shimmered under the arched pathway. I wonder; what was life like for San Diegans, before this bridge was built in 1967? How did they get to the Island of Coronado? ❤️
What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever found (and kept)?
The coolest thing I ever found was Elizabeth Y Garrett’s Album. I was 19 years old and found it buried in a box of old books I purchased for a dollar. I still have it. The following is a transcribed excerpt from the book reflecting Elizabeth’s thoughts of the day.
Deciding whether or not to buy that pumpkin could be a lost opportunity, but for what? Three days ago my daughter mentioned she would like a pumpkin, and if I would please check the local market for one on my way home from an errand. So I passed by the market and checked out the supply. One in particular looked pretty good. After checking out its shape, size and condition, I pondered – would this pumpkin be OK? I actually considered not taking it into the store to purchase – I’m not sure what held me back. Its slight imperfections – would it fit the bill? Too much over analyzing – for sure. Well, I took the plunge and lugged it inside to the cash register, where the person bagging groceries said, Do you have candy for the trick or treaters? I said, “No!” “I better get some.” He agreed and was happy to influence me. I didn’t tell him we hadn’t had a trick or treater for 20 years. So, after buying my candy and pumpkin @ $9.99. I asked the man, not young, not old, but a familiar face, bagging groceries, if he wouldn’t take my pumpkin to the car for me. It was kind of heavy. He was happy to oblige. On our way I asked him if he remembered the huge blizzard we had in 2011, which totally ruined our Halloween; the years when we used to get tons of children at the door. He said, “Yes, of course, I remember it.” And proceeded to tell me that night of the storm he was drinking and driving, hit black ice and had a horrible car accident. He said he hasn’t had a drink since. I was impressed with his story and told him I knew a few men who have chosen the same path as he has.
So, if I hadn’t gone in to the buy the pumpkin, I never would have heard the not so old man’s story, a person who has waited on me invariably since the times of Covid, and who has never ever opened up to me in all that time. I took the pumpkin home to my daughter, who excitedly carved out this jack-o-lantern, for her own 14 month daughter, whom she dressed up like a little witch, and marched her up and down the street to stop at all the houses with their lights on to go trick or treating. I think she was the only one out, but still neighbors were hopeful that someone would stop. The pumpkin sat outside on our doorstep with a candle-inside, to chase away all the evil spirits flying through the air.
All of this came to be…
…What you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
Epicurus
San Francisco in 2013
Nostalgia galore
Take a ride on the New York Central
A journey on White Mountain Atlantic
Over the Merrimack and Pemigewasset River beds
From 3,728 feet on Mt Kancamagus
Imagine time standing still
in your mind.
Travel all aboard!
What books do you want to read?
I ate a cookie with my coffee this morning. As I ate the cookie it came to me once again that I would like to read “War and Peace.” I read “Anna Karenina” Anna is a tragic character because she never realized she was enough. But it wasn’t her fault because she was the victim of a rigid society. She was ostracized for having an affair that resulted in unrequited love. To add insult to injury her son was taken away from her and she wasn’t allowed to see him. The last time she saw him was out of secrecy. Desperate and lonely, she killed herself.
I will finish reading “East of Eden.” Steinbeck is one of my favorite American authors. He’s the best.
I also would like to read “Roots” by Alex Haley and “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.”
That’s enough for now. The cookie was good. 🍪
Snow falls to the ground.
Gray sky, bare trees.
A chill in the air,
here to stay,
for today,
I'm afraid -
GRB
A shell collection I picked up on the beach over time. A few I bought at a store. I like the broken and scuffed up imperfections of those found at the shore. Shells are wonderful concrete objects from nature with a variety of shapes and forms. Once they are in my pocket, rescued from the beating waves that tumble them on the sand, they can finally find a home where they exist intact, and impermeable to change. They will last longer than me. I keep them inside a giant glass fish bowl.
On Tiffany Creek 