Somewhere south of Culpeper, just after sunset, a slim sliver of the moon hung in the wetern sky. I drove south to Lynchburg on a bit of a leisurely, scenic route. I started out as many of these trips start, heading north to Harrisburg then turning south down Interstate 81. I got off to aContinue reading “The Road Less Taken”
Category Archives: Life
Christmas Tree Lane
Every Christmas, Lancaster’s baseball team holds something they call “Christmas Tree Lane,” a display of decorated trees on the stadium concourse. There’s also a drive-through Christmas lights display on the field. I went tonight, even though it was bitterly cold and hellishly windy — temperature of 26 degrees right now, with a wind chill ofContinue reading “Christmas Tree Lane”
Updates from Social Media
What follows are a series of social media posts from the past several days relating to my mom’s hospitalization and death. The artwork I use may not match exactly what I used on social media, but it’s similar, and in one case there’s more. From Facebook. Friday, December 12, 10:30 PM. Saying goodbye to myContinue reading “Updates from Social Media”
Mommy
My mom, Leona Gibson, passed away on December 14, 2025. Some thoughts on someone who was part of my life for all of it.
Last Night’s Sunset
In the shadow of sorrow — a dying loved one — there is beauty and a reminder that, as the Sleeping at Last song “Saturn” puts it, “The universe was made to be seen by your eyes.” (Or something like that. I’m not going to look up the lyrics. They hurt too much.) Picture takenContinue reading “Last Night’s Sunset”
Reflections Upon a LinkedIn Post
I wrote a LinkedIn post. I feel dirty. I’m a writer. I value words. I value meaning. I value connection. LinkedIn is devoid of all that. The LinkedIn style is short sentences, toxic positivity, endless and unexpected life and career lessons, relentless brand building. Personality is discouraged. Paragraphs of more than a sentence or twoContinue reading “Reflections Upon a LinkedIn Post”
Scenes from the Occupation
I was in Washington on Sunday. Congressional Cemetery was having a winter fair, and as I hadn’t been to Congressional Cemetery to visit my family there this year, this seemed like the right time to go. I love Washington. My mom said many years ago that I should live there… and I should! I justContinue reading “Scenes from the Occupation”
In the Dairy Aisle
Friday afternoon, after going to the bank — Pennsylvania still is not depositing my unemployment checks to my back account, despite updating my banking information three times — I stopped at the grocery store on the way home. I knew I needed to for some reason as I drove down Springwood Road, and then itContinue reading “In the Dairy Aisle”
Moonrise over Pennsylvania
A chilly early evening. I’m going to listen to WAMU’s Hot Jazz Saturday Night and call it a day.
Thoughts on a Grim December Morn
No, they don’t have Christmas in Kentucky There’s no holly on a West Virginia door For the trees don’t twinkle when you’re hungry And the jingle bells don’t jingle when you’re poor — Phil Ochs, “Christmas in Kentucky” The weather forecast for today was all over the map. Something wintry, that was definite. Accumulation? Snow?Continue reading “Thoughts on a Grim December Morn”