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Dear Greg
[Greg (R) and myself on some forgotten peak in the Keene Valley Region of the Adirondacks. NY. Date: 1970’s. Photo is mine.] It’s coming up on a year now since you left me on the trail. You needed to climb one more mountain…at the time, I didn’t want another summit, but you had other thoughts.…
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A Dialectical Critique of “Teenager in Love”
[Dion. Photo probably taken in the 1960’s. Source: Mancrushes.com] If you ask me, far too many words have been written about the hidden meanings and subtleties of Bertolt Brecht’s Mack the Knife or Pirate Jenny. Granted the Weimar Era in Germany (1918-1933) were pretty wacky times. But lyrics like: “You gentlemen can watch while I’m…
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This Is Not Me
[The Wind Star. Photo: Windstar Cruises.] I know it’s April Fools Day but this is not a trick or prank. {NOTE TO READERS: The name of this post says it all. I did not write it. Backstory: Several weeks ago I had a dinner conversation with my son, Brian. He is almost always one step…
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420: The Key to the Secrets of the Universe
[The house where I grew up. Owego, NY.] In 1971, five students of San Rafael High School (CA) decided that they would smoke cannabis next to a statue of Louis Pasteur. They chose to wait until all the after-school activities were finished. It was 4:20 in the afternoon (PDT). The date? Why, April 20, of…
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The Moonflower
[The White Moon Flower. Ipomoea alba. Photo: Google Search] Nature is an Aeolian Harp, a musical instrument, whose tones are the re-echo of higher strings within us. ~~Novalis This is a true story. It happened to me during my last few years before leaving home to attend college in the South. All of it took…
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Angel On My Wing
[American Airlines Gate Attendant. Caitlin. Photo is mine. The smile is hers.] “Collect Moments, Not Things” Gate #7 was nearly full at the Key West Airport. Mariam snagged two seats, probably using her charm. I would have picked a place to sit and made obnoxious remarks to anyone nearby until they moved. That’s what you…
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It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ~~A.A.Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh So, what brought you back to me, Moxie? I watched you wandering around the pool, and you looked intent. You found me back here among the palms, in the cool air. The sun was getting too intense for me. And…
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My 600th Blog: Lat. 24 N./Long. 81 W.
[Ernest Hemingway’s typewriter. Located at the Hemingway House Museum, Key West, Florida. Photo is mine.] Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. ~~Ernest Hemingway I am sitting in the air-conditioned Monroe Country Public Library (Key West Branch). It’s quiet, cool and has a WiFi that takes no prisoners. I…
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Paradise Lost
[Sculpture from the MET. Photo is mine. Sadly, I failed to record the sculptor.] No matter where you’re going it’s the wrong place. ~ ~Tobe Hooper [BEFORE YOU CONTINUE: This blog post is not, in any way, an attempt to denigrate any staff, employees or anyone else who made every effort to make our short…
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We Dream In Colors Borrowed From The Sea
[The beach at Taino Beach Resort. Photo is mine.] Like painted kites Those days and nights, they went flyin’ by The world was new Beneath a bright blue umbrella sky… ~ ~The Summer Wind. Lyrics by Henry Mayer & Hans Bradtke Slide your beach lounger closer, Mariposa, the white plastic is making my eyes water.…