Monday, December 22, 2025

     I begin reading the New Yorker at age 18 at college. And I have stuck with it. The Netflix documentary on the one hundred year anniversary of the New Yorker, is well done and evocative of times past. I love the New Yorker. The writing has given me a fresh view of life and living.

     I ‘ve not heard a single Christmas song, not one this year.  I am so isolated from this season. My roommate set up a charming small live Christmas tree in the living room. But the sounds of Christmas have escaped me.  Maybe I am spending too much time at home. I should get out and experience life in stores and downtown.

   My current reading challenge is Philip Pullman’s latest 600 page book, THE ROSE FIELD, volume three of the Book of Dust. Over the decades I have read most of his books. Am I too old to enjoy his fantasy writing now? Is my mind stuck in detective stories.

     I have been doing a 30 minute chair yoga routine for the last two months.  Almost every day. In the late afternoon I sit in my bedroom with the instruction book and do the stretches and movements. I feel good when I am done, but I am not sure I am getting stronger.

 

Sunday, December 21, 2025

    Light rain, not so cold this morning. Puddles beginning to form in the driveway. Busy small birds in the bottle bush trees. A few drops in the bathroom bucket under the sky light.

     An unplanned gathering of several family members in the late morning. We talk and laugh, glad to be together. The young poet is back in her room here.  Her room for 6 years. And then they return to their lives and the house is quiet most of the day.

     A friend asks on a phone call, what I am up to and I have to admit nothing, Reading, eating lunch, taking a nap, the usual activities. I am embarrassed to say the big news is taking a shower.  When did taking a shower become such a big ticket item.

     I am reading another Michael Connelly detective novel, NIGHTSHADE. Looking at the list of Connelly’s forty six books is overwhelming.  How could anyone write so many books. I study the authors portrait for clues. Soon I will go back to the more challenging books in the pile waiting to be read. I continue to follow the Epstein files reports in the news.

 

Saturday, December 20, 2025

    A car trip that usually takes 5 minutes lasts 20 minutes as we get stuck in tangled traffic.  High School kids and cars fill the streets as school closes early for the holidays. We are too late for the medical appointment. So frustrating.

     This morning the streets are wet with rain. Our town is on the edge of storm hitting California. We will probably escape the flooding predicted.

     I mention to family members, maybe we don’t give gifts for Christmas this year.  Just an idea but I miscalculate, I don’t give others the chance to express an option and now I am not sure what to do. It is OK to give gifts, really. I have created a confusion with in the family. Sigh. I am not in charge. I am not in charge anymore. I think I used to be in charge many years ago. I am finding my place in the family among talented bright younger members.

     We watch another episode of PLURIBUS and now have to wait a week for the last episode.  Such a strange series.  We continue to watch the two guys on their motorcycles. For laughter we watch Stephen Colbert on THE LATE SHOW.