Posted March 31, 2021in Joe's Neighborhood
Seven of my siblings wait in line before me. Judy, Carol, Marla, John, Joyce, Jim and Cathy. I’m at the tail end. One at a time, they go into a small room at our grade school and then out they come with one sleeve rolled up, a mark on their
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Posted March 03, 2021in Joe's Neighborhood
Should I take the steep, black diamond run on the mountain to the left, or the longer, curving run on the mountain to the right? Do I want deep snow that sprays at every turn, or a slick track with speed? A chair lift for three, or a moving platform
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Posted February 03, 2021in Joe's Neighborhood
We are late, my friend and I. The doors to the hall at Hoyt Sherman Place are already closed. We can hear the murmur of voices as we rush up the stairs to the entrance. He and I are breathing hard and still sweaty from our noon workout. We pull
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Posted January 06, 2021in Joe's Neighborhood
The boxwood stump, buried by leaves, snagged my dragging foot and landed me face-first in the soft ground. Ker-plop. No fanfare. No discussion. And certainly no dissent on the part of my lightning quick reflexes. Just… bang. So here I am in the leaves. Observing the world from a new
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Posted December 02, 2020in Joe's Neighborhood
“Joe, this is going to hurt.” No kidding. I lie on my back trying to visualize a white sand beach with crystal blue water and a cabana worker offering an ice-cold beverage in an oversized glass. Instead, my go-to visualization usually involves buying a footlong hotdog with extra mustard from
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Posted November 04, 2020in Joe's Neighborhood
We sit on the bench. Both of us mouths open, heads leaned back, eyes wide. Glazed donuts melting in our hands as we watch. Clearly, no parent is in charge of the two of us. We grab a second donut before the show really begins. BIG TREE CUTTING. . .
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Posted September 30, 2020in Joe's Neighborhood
The tree rests comfortably on the roof. Nonchalantly, really. Not a care in the world. Might as well be in a pushed-back recliner with feet up. Perhaps a cigar would be in order. Or at least one of those new cocktails that are so popular at the local bars. It
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Posted September 02, 2020in Joe's Neighborhood
One moment there’s nothing, the next moment — beautiful flowers. Magic. Which must be why the blossoms stand at the very tippy top as if suddenly sprouting out of the head of a giraffe. Straight and tall on stems that are long and ungainly, it would seem that the wind
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Posted August 05, 2020in Joe's Neighborhood
Would it help your pandemic doldrums if someone told you that you are special? Of course, that “someone” may be a complete lunatic. Fine. But why not pay your money and take a chance? I’ve generally been good with the fallout from the coronavirus — picking up groceries from masked
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Posted July 01, 2020in Joe's Neighborhood
“Dad, isn’t FaceTime a great way for us to talk during this weird virus time?” The smiling face of my daughter locked down in England greets me. Lively, personable and true to real life. And then I make the mistake of looking at the small screen in the right corner.
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