Monday, May 18, 2026

     I have 15 UNREAD LIBRARY BOOKS SITTING ON MY DINNING ROOM TABLE. Books I excitedly put a hold on and finally pick up and bring home.  And more books are waiting. Their due dates haunt me even though the library does not charge for overdue books, it is a matter of honor to not be late.

     And now I have just read the Sunday New York Times book reviews. And now at least a half dozen new books excite me. Ordinarily I check the library webpage to put holds on their books. I want to buy some of the books on line from amazon. My house overflows with books, coming and going.

      I am afraid I will miss something important, some vital piece of life.  The challenge is to enjoy each book.  It is no fun to hurry through the books. Reading too fast means I am missing the meaning and joy of the reading. This is a merry go round that I want to get off of.

     Today I am reading WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE STARS, a novel by Glendy Vanderah. Today I am going to slow down and enjoy the reading, I hope.

 

Sunday, May 17, 2026

     Strong winds blow through town yesterday afternoon and evening. A change in the weather is coming. My roommate suggests checking the national weather report to see what is happening. I choose to look at the tall pine trees whipping around in the wind. This morning the air is still and cold. Traces of fog in the sky.

     Once again I drive to the library to return books and pick up the new ones.  This time I don’t use the courtesy walker. Across the street at Colton Hall Lawn, crowds are gathering for the MIIS graduation ceremony. Groups of people wonder around downtown.

     I plan to stop at McDonald’s for a burger and fries to celebrate eating easily again. The car line is long. I decide to go some other time. I watch two young people cross the busy street while looking at their cell phones. Such ill-advised confidence in safety. 

     I am reading THE TESTAMENT OF MARY, a short novel by Colm Toibin, an imaginary story of the mother of Jesus. I love Toibin’s work. We watch the first episode of an older series, RESCUE ME, about fireman traumatized by the attack on the world trade center. When the living room is quiet the gusting wind sounds like the ocean waves.

 

Saturday, May 16, 2026

     Wake up to sun light this morning. Breezy bright morning. Roommate leaves for her Saturday master gardening class. The house is quiet as I sit here with my computer wondering what to write about.

     An 81 year old friend comes by for a visit Friday morning. We both agree that turning 80 is the beginning of serious body problems.  But still, we talk and laugh, and get excited talking about Michael Pollan’s new book exploring consciousness. So many questions about the meaning of life and what life on earth is really about.

     We watch a couple of episodes of HACKS in the evening. Also, a tense episode of AFTER THE FLOOD.  And a bit of the news on PBS. Watching TV in the evening has become routine.

     I am just about finished with PAPER GIRL. The focus of the book is how the middle class was destroyed by NAFTA agreements, eliminating the middle class manufacturing jobs in the US. I am also reading BLINDSIDED, A Reluctant Memoir, by Richard M. Cohen. Actually, the books are the most interesting part of my life lately.  UMM, I wonder if that is healthy.