Notes From Serendipity

The Republican party is shattered, not only because of Trump, who hopefully is the last Jim Jones wannabe on this train careening toward the Führerhauptquartiere, but because of its acquiescence to the radicals in the party.  When someone punches you, you punch back even if they call your father a friend of Lee Harvey Oswald, … Read moreAvoid the Train to Führerhauptquartiere

So, my question is, if you were at a stop light, in the middle of nowhere, with a ‘No Right Turn’ sign in your face, how long would you wait if the light didn’t turn green?   Three minutes?  One hour?  Forever?  Would someone find you there in ten years, still waiting, but satisfied that … Read moreWhat Does a Red Light Mean?

When I was collecting New York Yankee baseball cards in 1958, I knew the current roster, the pitching rotation and the foibles of each player.  I didn’t have to memorize it or have a cheat sheet.  It flowed into my youthful brain effortlessly, as did my annoyance with Cher for having Tom Sturdivant and not … Read moreFrench Bread Sharpens the Brain

I almost always ignore the introductory information when flying.  I have heard about the seat belt thing, the floatie thing that you must use in case of a water landing, the raft that comes down and the oxygen mask.   However, this time I decided to listen and fascinating discoveries danced into my aging brain. … Read moreHorrible Watery Death

I have been watching commercials proposing that Babbel can teach you French in only 4 weeks.  Middle-aged students can be seen exuding confidence in their conversational abilities after a lifetime of yearning to ‘parler’. Really.  Four weeks.  What am I doing wrong? My goals this year include the long-time goal of passing the DELF French … Read moreBabbel, Babble, Toil and Trabble

So what is so special about football?  Nothing really. It is just an exciting game that a majority of the people in the country watch and enjoy.  The game, the essence of the game, is no different than any other.  Someone tries to get something they don’t have.  The process is exciting and entertaining, but … Read moreIt’s Just A Game

Really, I don’t even remember his name.  But, he was a friend, and I had promised to take him on a plane ride around Catalina.   It was September 25, 1978 and the sky was so clear you could see twenty miles in every direction, which, I might add, is unusual in Southern California.  We climbed … Read moreOn A Clear Day You Can See Forever

Yesterday Nancy and I played golf with a couple from the Bay Area.  The names of the cities sparked memories of the Bay Area as it grew from a small series of towns into Silicon Valley.  Pete’s Harbor, Sharon Heights, Half-Moon Bay and, of course, the trip on 280 from San Jose to South San … Read moreA Generation That Was Going To Make A Difference

Joe Niekro had a great knuckle ball.  Almost impossible to hit is what batters used to say during the best years of his career.  Several years after his retirement he described how he threw the knuckle ball.  He actually ‘pushed’ the ball out of his hand with his fingers.  Later on, as technology improved, there … Read moreJoe Niekro He Is Not

Everyone knows the story of King Solomon involving the two women and their claims for a baby.  King Solomon solves this problem by offering to cut the baby in two, giving half of the baby to each claimant, thus killing the baby.   One woman agrees to this and the other gives up her claim in … Read moreKing Solomon Rocks