I­ know this is my chance, everyone’s chance, to sum up an entire year of life. Except, who’s counting? Or to be more precise, who’s following this particular calendar? Yes, 2021 may be a convenient parcel. But I’m not sure I really see it that way. In fact, when I think about it, and I rarely do, these years have been marked by the falling or rising of a curtain vis-à-vis COVID-19. So, my years in virology started long about March 2020. And then there was the same thing last year, that Read more [...]

In the olden days, and who knows why I recall the olden days, there was something called SuperShuttle. The outfit serviced several airports around the country. Vans from home to airport, that was their thing. It was some moment when I had arrived in San Francisco, perhaps flying home from an annual Robert Bly gathering in Minnesota, when I waited, as always, some extraordinary length of time for my ride on, you guessed it, SuperShuttle. The company operated roughly 100 vans around the greater San Read more [...]

I just got off the phone with Cary, who organizes the book group at our local library branch, and felt encouraged by our discussion of politics. I like encouragement. There is so much I read in places like Salon about the political disaster awaiting the American left that I particularly enjoyed Cary’s sober assessment. Lots of work ahead, but not as hopeless as many imagine. Just this morning I read Chauncey Devega’s reminder about the simultaneously mesmerizing and disorienting nature of Read more [...]

Winter technically arrives in a couple of days, but it has been at the Berkeley Repertory Theater for a couple of months in the form of Wintertime. I don’t understand what anyone sees in Charles Mee’s 1988 play. I’m not sure why the Rep produced it, except that the thing is popular in some circles. Wanted to bring the audiences back. I get it. I just didn’t like the play, but never mind. I liked being in the theater. I liked being part of a live audience. Jane and I hit the road at Read more [...]

“No back up for 176 days,” warns a small message on the top of my MacBook screen. I like this message. It is spot on. The degree of prescience involved in this astonishes me. Yes, we all need back up. And where is mine? Forgive the silly pun. But it’s true, I am lacking some kind of support. What that support would look like I cannot say. And this is a bad sign. What I can say is that this morning began with great promise. It continued toward noon on a spiritual high. And by that I simply Read more [...]