In Barry Levinson’s 1990 movie “Avalon,” there’s a scene where the aging patriarch sits down in his easy chair in front of the TV. The camera remains stationary, but there’s a slow cross-fade, and at the end of it we see that several years have passed. The old guy is in the same chair, still watching TV, but he has gotten much older. He hasn’t moved, but […]
In the Bleak Midwinter
Happy Solstice, everybody. Shortest day of the year for those of us north of the equator. Even those of us in Florida. That can be both bad and good, right? Bad in that if you haven’t done all your Christmas shopping, there’s a good chance you’ll be finishing it up in darkness. Good in that from now until June, the days get longer. Even these days, when […]
Christmas in Florida
For a man who enjoys cold weather, Florida might not be the optimal state in which to live. Nevertheless, here I am. A couple of days past the winter solstice and and I find myself noting the Christmas lights on the palm trees, and the flowers in bloom, and the perspiration produced by a moderately brisk walk with the dog. It all feels kind of foreign. I’m […]
The climate outside is frightful
This morning in Wichita, in the pale light of a low-rising sun, the temperature’s not so far above zero. That’s pretty darned cold for these parts, though it is December and the news stories today about winter storms “crashing” into the Midwest and “hammering” New England seem a little overwrought. People forget from year to year that a certain amount of cold and snow, in the few […]
A morning without power
Guess it’s a storm after all. The power went off at 3:30 a.m., and didn’t come back on until around 10 a.m. In the meantime, our good friends were good enough to have us over for a nice hot breakfast. Thanks, D & D! Now everything is covered in ice and certain branches are hanging dangerously low, and wet snow is coming down hard. But the furnace […]