In the year 2525 (less 1/2 a millennium)

Hope youse had a Merry Christmas!  Remember, this is just the beginning, if you play your cards right (1). Boxing Day has its own traditions, like me writing this Christmas letter. Congratulations to you boomers out there who caught that reference in the title to Zager & Evans’ ’69 hit (2).  Listening to those apocalyptic 60s songs –Continue reading “In the year 2525 (less 1/2 a millennium)”

Head in Tree Town, Heart in the ‘burg

This was my entry to the 11th annual SW Michigan Tournament of Writers. When the winners were named April 24th, mine wasn’t among them. I share it here for those who don’t want to buy the book (1). A lucky dog was this Ike(2) in ’64 as Fisher Body’s brass kicked my dad from TechContinue reading “Head in Tree Town, Heart in the ‘burg”

mancave upgrade!

Timing is everything.  At my first stab at this blog, I thought I had the greatest lead-in: “Should an older man on the eve of his 39th wedding anniversary be spending time waxing over his mancave?”  There’s no relation between the two dates, only that some improvements in my mancave have finally settled in.  Our anniversary and that footballContinue reading “mancave upgrade!”

head, heart

I spent a little time last week in the village where I was a teen, Vicksburg.  The occasion was the awards ceremony for the Southwest Michigan Tournament of Writers.  I’d received dispensation the year before from the director to enter, even though I was not a local.  The stipulation was that I confine my writings to Vicksburg.  I did,Continue reading “head, heart”

against…

My Spotify turns up endless delights.  Tonight, my “Cat Stevens Radio” Spotify channel spit up an old Bob Seger classic that’s always been very meaningful to me (1).  As I felt once again these lyrics in my soul, I thought perhaps most superficial fans missed the meaning of this song.  Sure, it’s about how tough life is,Continue reading “against…”

how lucky

Listening to John Prine’s Spotify channel last night got me thinking about a project I started years ago and now might be about time to deploy.   I’ll link John’s song about this at the end, but first let me relate the details. From my birth I’ve been lucky.  After a while you wonder what the pattern means.Continue reading “how lucky”

Docere day?

My dear wife flew pretty high around the turn of the century as NASA’s Chief Scientist, an experience that informed the motivationql speeches she took to giving after her tenure there.  To handle the proceeds from her efforts, she formed an LLC, Docere (doh-kaý-rah; from the Latin “to teach”).  Over the years, we’ve taking to running anyContinue reading “Docere day?”

quaternary

Hello to my dozens of readers and anyone else looking in. The term quaternary refers to the fourth order in a series.  As a lifelong striving academic, I’m well aware of the quaternary milestones of graduation from high school, college, and medical school.  The rhythm gets fuzzy after that: residencies – at least for internal medicine –Continue reading “quaternary”