Writing Reality

  After quitting my job at an organic supermarket late last year, I took two excursions to New England. One was within two weeks of my last day at the market, which was not planned. The next excursion had been planned seven months prior. Now that we no longer have pets and our children are in and out between college and whatnot, I wanted to treat myself to a lallygagging restful stay at a couple hotels in New England and just sleep, run, walk, hike, read, write and eat. Besides having started a new business in 2022 which wouldn’t account for much immediate income; I went back to work for other people in late 2024 and added a second part-time job in early 2025. This was to aid in the funds of taking time to help our oldest over two years move into two new housing and apartment units, as well as her graduating across the country in 2025. By my driving 3,000 miles one way I could bring supplies to her and save us both money. What ended up occurring on the second excursion up north w...

  The chicken sucked, a baby was crying, a granddad was being loud with his grandsons at a table nearby in the diner; however, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone out to eat with someone. Especially with a family member. Now, upon further reflection it was June 14 th , 2025, on the Santa Monica Blvd with our daughters and our eldest’s friend after her college graduation. And the food was beef and it was grand—$600 later and still perhaps the best food I’d ever had out. Back to the other night, I was having a meal with our youngest at an eatery of her selection. She was overly distracted, but I understood all the distractions they were fun, anxious and seemingly at top speed. Up until recently I’d been at top speed. Our oldest now has recognized that top speed isn’t always necessary; however, I warned her of the very thing I demonstrated back home to her throughout her childhood—intensity. I remarked, “Your dad was the exception in a spouse handling my intensity as a scienc...

Can we dream what we imagine? That was my thought last night as I lay in bed, only slightly fatigued from my training run and then the over 5 hours of shrub and lawn care amounting to over 22 miles of running and walking during the day. I wasn't mentally taxed as I'd been trying to revive the UltraRunner within me, once again. Yes, I had enough energy at 10:20pm last night to mentally imagine my ultimate peaceful presence with nature as some part of my future. I knew it would most likely be only an imagined dream in part of any future of any kind for me. So, I proceeded in my mind's eye to envision a sunny, yet partly cloudy day, late morning, spring-like, my sitting on our back deck. I wondered what would be with me. First thought was a big, black bear. I knew I'd have to provide some food to show him I was his friend who only wanted to sit beside him. I wondered if he'd let me stroke his fur. Would it be safe? Yet, I would not touch him as he would be eating the s...