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Category Archives: Essays
We Need National Service. Now. — David Brooks
The formative moment for a new generation. Ed note: What a brilliant moment it would be for young people to have the opportunity to serve during this pandemic–and beyond. Not only does society have great needs, but young people need … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Social justice
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Tell me the story about the virus
Thanks to Donna D.!
Posted in Essays
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Why the Trump Ploy Stopped Working – David Brooks
Even in a pandemic there are weavers and rippers. The weavers try to spiritually hold each other so we can get through this together. The rippers, from Donald Trump on down, see everything through the prism of politics and still … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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Are you a lexophile?
Thanks Donna D! “Lexophile” describes those that have a love for words, such as “you can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish,” and “To write with a broken pencil is pointless.” An annual competition is held by the … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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Kindness in the neighborhood
Thanks to Joan Conlon for letting us know, and smile. Frank and I were walking through the neighborhood recently, and as we passed Vito’s, a young man came running after us, calling, “Madam, Madam.” We turned to look at him … Continue reading
Can a crisis reform a curmudgeon!?
Thanks to Alice Wesley for letting us know a bright side of the current crisis. I suspect many acts of kindness are in the air. In fact, if some are going to receive a “stimulus check” from the government, where … Continue reading
Presidential ‘tweets’ on the free press
By The Seattle Times editorial board President Donald Trump, easily fending off his remaining challenger for the Republican nomination in Iowa and New Hampshire, continues to lob insults against media organizations covering the campaign. While friction between presidents and the press … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Politics, Social justice
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What’s a true apology?
Ed note: We see a lot of “non-apology apologies” in the media and may have been involved some half-baked efforts ourselves. Let’s face it. It’s hard to admit fault! Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin had it right, “It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Essays
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Trump Has Made Us All Stupid
By David Brooks in the NYT: Donald Trump is impulse-driven, ignorant, narcissistic and intellectually dishonest. So you’d think that those of us in the anti-Trump camp would go out of our way to show we’re not like him — that … Continue reading
The art of complaining
Comment: My dad, when confined to a wheel chair in a nursing home knew that his situation was far from ideal. He so strongly missed my mom. He got some pastoral help and also benefited from a low dose antidepressant. … Continue reading
Posted in Aging Sites, Essays, happiness
1 Comment
God bless those who keep us safe
Thanks to Margarete B. From the California Highway Patrol: There are some stories that truly speak to the heart and retired Ohio State Trooper Bob Welsh’s touching poem, “My Christmas Eve”, is certainly one of them. With his permission, we … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Holidays, Poetry, Remembrances
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I Headed the F.B.I. and C.I.A. There’s a Dire Threat to the Country I Love.
By William Webster Mr. Webster is a former federal judge and the former director of both the F.B.I. and the C.I.A. Letter to the NYT: The privilege of being the only American in our history to serve as the director of … Continue reading
A regional solution to homelessness is long overdue. Ask those on the front lines
From Crosscut: At this moment, as winter descends in the Pacific Northwest, there are well over 11,000 people living unsheltered and unhoused in King County. Many are veterans and single parents. Many are escaping abusive households, have lost jobs, have experienced eviction … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Essays, Homeless, Safety, Social justice
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A divided America needs a one-nation centrist party
By Chris Vance Special to The Seattle Times I am one of the scores of Americans left politically homeless. For 37 years I worked to build the Republican Party in Washington state. The election of President Donald Trump and the ascendancy … Continue reading
For the Holidays, the Gift of Self-Care
From the NYT: The Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim remembers the moment he discovered the power of self-care. He was a frustrated graduate student when a trusted friend told him the solution was to “be good to yourself first — then … Continue reading
Reach out, listen, be patient. Good arguments can stop extremism
From Aeon: Many of my best friends think that some of my deeply held beliefs about important issues are obviously false or even nonsense. Sometimes, they tell me so to my face. How can we still be friends? Part of … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, Race, Social justice
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In praise of Washington insiders by David Brooks
Let me tell you a secret. The public buildings of Washington are filled with very good people working hard for low pay and the public good. There are thousands of them and they are very much like the Foreign Service … Continue reading
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The upside of laziness
From Aeon: We are being lazy if there’s something that we ought to do but are reluctant to do because of the effort involved. We do it badly, or do something less strenuous or less boring, or just remain idle. … Continue reading
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A Mysterious Journey into the Darkness
by Ann Milam The train screeches to a sudden jolting stop. “What’s happening?” I exclaim. “We’re nowhere near a town!” Looking out the small window over my narrow bunk, I see only darkness in the Rajasthan desert in India. It’s … Continue reading
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The Lost & Found Tale of a Valuable Pigeon
By Lorraine Wascher Woods During our February snowstorm, the Schullers had a handsome pigeon trapped on their balcony for three days. Not just any pigeon; it turns out he was a specially bred and valuable racing pigeon. Nichole Griepentrog (Skyline … Continue reading
Posted in environment, Essays, In the Neighborhood
1 Comment
Why are some people left handed
I’m a pure rightie but in my family there are lefties and some with traits of both. One of my sons throws right in baseball, bats left and in soccer, kicks left. Gordon G sends along this interesting video essay. … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, History, Science and Technology
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Six Word Stories!
By Ann Milam Ernest Hemingway’s award-winning story was featured in our last Bulletin. Sitting in the Algonquin Hotel bar, friends bet Ernest Hemingway that he couldn’t write a story in only six words that would make them cry. With ten … Continue reading
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September 11, 2001
By Mary Jane Francis Streaming, screaming, careening thru the streets… It was unimaginable. Truly, un-imaginable! Nothing in my imagination even came close to what I would see later on a large screen TV in the middle of the night. … Continue reading
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The Trick to Life Is to Keep Moving
By Devi Lockwood in the NYT For many people, roommates and romances are the most important relationships of their late teens and early 20s. For me it was Cora Brooks, a poet and activist 51 years my senior. She taught me … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Aging Sites, end of life, Essays
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What do you see in the park?
Thanks to Margarete B & Gordon G. Two strangers “see” together.
Posted in Essays
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