“Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came…” Cheers Theme (Original Demo) Song by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart-Angelo In my area during the Covid pandemic we quarantined, shut-down business, locked down schools, banned social activities and isolated healthy people. For 18 months, face-to-face contact with others…
A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Last year when my refrigerator starting making funny noises I thought I would have to replace it. At the time, it seemed like all of my 20 year old appliances had suddenly decided to fail simultaneously. But, as luck would have, my fridge has continued to perform spectacularly. It’s a bit noisy, with gurgles, popping and…
Panic At The Disco
I become very calm, quiet and rational during when under intense pressure. At these times, I often perform my best. It’s not that I am particularly courageous or fearless. This is simply my natural reaction. Here are some examples: When I was a scrawny teenager, my friends and I got jumped in downtown Pittsburgh late one…
I’ve Lost My Mojo
The last time I had a full-time job was in 2016. Late that year, I was fired when the company reorganized and eliminated my position. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
Perfectly Imperfect
My house looks pretty good. It was painted just before I bought it two years ago. It’s only 20 years old, so it still seems “new” to me. I put new floors in when I bought it. I stained and refinished all the cabinets and my furniture. Still, it is full of imperfections. There are…
Swimming Downhill
I swim about a mile everyday. The first few hundred yards tend to be a little rough – I might be shivering from the cold water, my shoulders are often stiff, my stroke is choppy and I’m thinking about how many laps I have to go before I’m finished. Once I’ve completed 24 laps or…
Call My Husband
From 2009-2010, my wife had chemotherapy every week to treat follicular lymphoma. At first, I drove her to her sessions and sat with her for 4 hours as she received chemo. We’d chat a bit until they got her started. Then I’d read or do work on my computer, while she mostly dozed from the…
Thinking Of Death All The Time
I think about death every day. Sometimes I think about my wife and the awful experiences we shared as she was dying from cancer. Sometimes I think about my Grandpa, my Uncle Bob or my Aunt Es, all who died more than 30 years ago. Sometimes I think about my neighbor who is slowly dying…
Freedom Comes From Not Caring What Others Think About Me
I was talking to a friend who was full of anxiety about a job he had just started. Throughout the conversation he said things like: “I’m not the best worker there many of these guys have 25 years of experience over me.” “I’m sure they look at me and think ‘He’s that stupid new guy who…
Driveways Paved In Gold
During my daily dog walks, I like stroll through the “rich” part of my neighborhood. The rich section has 4+ bedroom 4000 sq. feet mini-mansions. They have landscaped lots, 2 car garages (usually full of crap) and a fleet of vehicles parked in their expansive driveways. I enjoy walking through all the parts of my neighborhood….