A Cold Start to the Year

I didn’t make it to midnight to see the stake put through 2025’s cold, black heart. I fell asleep about 9, while listening to Hot Jazz New Year’s Eve on WAMU, and woke at 11 to Fred Astaire singing “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” I turned it off, turned off the lights, andContinue reading “A Cold Start to the Year”

Memories of Long Ago

From time to time I think about two customers from my long-ago EB Games days. There was a man named Malcolm who came in the store on the weekends with his son, aged around 10. (I cannot remember the son’s name, but it might’ve been David. That’s what I’ll use going forward, but it mightContinue reading “Memories of Long Ago”

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”

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”

The First Snow of the Season

I called my mom on Thursday for Thanksgiving. She wanted to know how much snow I had on the ground. “None,” I said. It had been sixty degrees a day or two before. “But if I’m remembering correctly, it looks like there’s a chance of snow early next week. Monday or Tuesday.” Today is Sunday.Continue reading “The First Snow of the Season”

A Derelict Church

I went into downtown York yesterday. Not something I often do, as I don’t like driving into downtown, though it’s become better in the last several years, ever since they repaved George Street. I wanted to go to a used book store to look for some research material for a writing project I intend toContinue reading “A Derelict Church”

An Autumnal August

Work made me a little grumpy today. I began the day working on support articles for our autumn sale, then I had a tricky project land in my lap, and the next thing I know it’s Noon, I haven’t taken my morning meds, and I’m staring at several more hours with this tricky project. Meanwhile,Continue reading “An Autumnal August”