The late 1960s were a turbulent time in the United States and as “colored” people, (“Black” and “African-American” hadn’t yet made their way into the popular vernacular) our parents did their best to raise my sisters and me within the delicately balanced framework of the hopefulness of the future juxtaposed against the discrimination … Continue reading
The Root of All Evil
“I don’t care too much for money, ‘cause money can’t buy me love” (Beatles). “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (King James Bible, 1 Tim. 6.10). Whether you agree with both of … Continue reading
Shedding the Golden Handcuffs
June 10, 2028 – I was fresh out of college and had landed my first “real” job – a management trainee position at a major insurance company. It was my very first day, and the representative from the “Personnel” department (the 1980s name for Human Resources) presented me with a large envelope containing my “Benefits … Continue reading
Facebook Confessions
Social media presents a strange but fascinating dichotomy within modern life. At times we lament the way in which the endless quest for “likes” and “friends” and the seemingly never-ending parade of dinner plate photos has replaced genuine conversation and connection. O On the other hand, there are rare instances when it is possible to … Continue reading
I Will Never Forget…
“I will never forget where I was when…” This is a phrase that almost everyone uses to recount some historic, and invariably, tragic event, that forever alters the trajectory, not only of our individual lives, but also that of our countries, our world, and increasingly, our very existence on the planet. The event itself will … Continue reading
Lotsa Ways to Skin a Cat
“There’s lotsa ways to skin a cat!” I have no doubt that members of PETA, the SPCA, as well as amateur animal lovers everywhere are fighting waves of nausea as a result of the graphically unpleasant word pictures evoked by that simple sentence. However, before writing me off as a narrow minded “hater” of those … Continue reading
I (used to) Hate Sundays!
“I hate Sundays!” Despite the fact that it has been forty-five years, I can remember shouting this sentence (in my head) as clearly as if it were yesterday. The scariest and simultaneously most fascinating aspect of this obscure childhood memory is the extraordinary restraint exhibited by my seven year old self, not only in avoiding … Continue reading
Paper or Plastic?
Paper or plastic? Coke or Pepsi? Boxers or briefs? Many of us make these deceptively simple, split-second decisions, hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of times throughout our lives. But are these choices really as simple as they seem, and do we actually have any real choices at all? Long ago, my siblings labeled me the “goody … Continue reading
Being Real
Even in his prime he was nothing fancy. Built like a teddy bear but with the floppy ears of a dog, “Branigin” was (and remains) my favorite stuffed animal. While my memory of exactly the day I received him is a little hazy (that does tend to happen after 50 years or so), I think … Continue reading
Leave the Light on For Me…
In many families it seems that various members have their assigned roles…the funny one, the social one, the leader, the “baby”. A voracious reader and viewer of documentaries from a very young age, my own assigned role has been that of “trivia buff”, “historian” and “keeper of useless information”. So, in keeping with that tradition … Continue reading
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