We are often encouraged to celebrate first responders: firemen who walk into burning buildings to help people escape the fire, EMS workers who rush people to the hospital, the doctors and nurses who care for Covid-19 patients and risk their own lives doing so. Some of the people doing these…

When I learned of the illness I was startled, but not really shocked. At 68, and feeling good, I thought I probably had more time, but they were quite clear. Pancreatic cancer was very difficult to treat and extremely difficult to cure. The new health care laws had permitted me…

We live soaked in good fortune and rarely have the slightest sense of it. It may be all for the best, but an occasional glimpse of how we win the lottery of astonishing daily good fortune can nevertheless boost our spirits and sober our appreciation of our lives. Pain, both…

MANKIND ON THE BEACH 4/11/20 Last night I awoke at two AM, disturbed. I remembered the terrible earthquake the day after Christmas in 2004. It occurred off the coast of Sumatra and its immense power triggered a tsunami that struck Banda Aceh in Indonesia among many other places all around…

I’M SORRY I’m sorry. Genuinely and truly regretful. I haven’t done enough, And I feel the burden Of my lethargy. I’ve lived in this exquisite world For many years now, Fortunate in every way, And I feel I’m leaving it in poor condition, As though I’d made an extravagant breakfast …

I Think I’m Okay I think I’m okay. It’s hard to know And I can’t be sure But I think I’m okay. Everything, after all, ends. Now we know As we have never known before. The sun will blow up Like a prader-willi patient And explode. Even the universe Will…

I stopped this morning While walking my good dog in October’s chill And darkness so still That the quiet when the gravel No longer crunched beneath my feet Opened up a vastness before me. I stood then, we did, With our perfect view eastward, Gazing into the silence And the mysteries of the dawn. And before us, out of darkness, Out of emptiness, the big bang of Morning began, And the line of silent grey steel

The Story of A Father Henry knew from an early age that his name, and therefore he himself, was ordinary. He could not have told you, nor really himself, that ordinariness was his lot, but just the same, he experienced precisely that. At ten, Henry was short and slightly stocky…

All our joy surges For this beautiful couple. All our joy Urges them into life. All their joy Renews us. All our joy Asks our courage To believe in it, To affirm it, To love our lives, To leap over our trials And to love these precious Bonds affirmed today Forever. 9/3/19