Uvalde: The Third Remembrance
The date of May 24, 2022 will always live in infamy: 19 students and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School murdered by a disturbed young man who then took his own life, all while more than 350 law enforcement personnel of various types did basically nothing constructive. Each year, this small town an hour from […]
Sam
Was her name Kedra, or was it Drake before it became Kedra? There is a story, told to Sam much later, that she was a he at one point many years ago. To Sam’s eyes and to his touch, there was no evidence of a prior person, but he could not help thinking, ‘was he […]
Mid-Summer 2025 Thoughts on Immigration
It is not possible to be calm The subject of immigration always has enough moving parts to fill an entire shelf of books at my favorite café, aka Barnes & Noble. Nonetheless, in the current environment, attempting to persuade kangaroos to march in line is easier than writing a cogent, comprehensive, readable essay about immigration, […]
Words, Tears, and a Quiet Good-Bye
A beautiful day in my life: May 5, 2025 “Thank you again for everything, Bob. Your friendship and your support mean more to me than I can say. I don’t know that I could have persevered without the motivation. I’ll forever be grateful for you.” (At 50+, with a full-time job and a large family, […]
2024 Birthday Card Compilation
Below is a compilation of my monthly e-mail birthday wishes for 2024. I have modified the graphics to make it easier to read and have used a common font. Each card closed with “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” and “Peace, Bob.” January: According to my snow shovel index – how many times in this part of New […]
May 24, 2025
May 24, 2025 When we mark the third anniversary of the Uvalde school massacre, it is encouraging to know that we have taken concrete steps to reduce the carnage associated with mass shootings. Company A is offering a window film to schools. The film purportedly reduces the impact of bullets aimed at destroying your […]
Jose and Maria
The JOSE and MARIA DILEMMA: A Stepback Analysis Similar to the challenge faced by every individual or organization which is in a helping mode: does all the good work change lives, either from an offensive standpoint — moving forward, or a defensive standpoint — avoiding negative results, the question arises: where are we […]
In My Shoes
IN MY SHOES Why are there two police cars with flashing lights outside the restaurant where the Hispanic Resource Center (HRC) is interacting with people applying for assistance from its Emergency Relief Fund (ERF)? Are they interested locally or are they coordinating with ICE? The latter was in town two days before, at a […]
Truth in Travelogues
TRUTH IN TRAVELOGUES Christmas, 2024 Number three in a truly discontinuous series that began decades ago. It had been several years since I logged the 600 mile (one-way) trip to be with my daughters and their families on the Big Day itself. Not yet being into the world of podcasts, I knew that something […]
Jose Santiago
JOSE SANTIAGO: AN INTROSPECTIVE VIGNETTE PRE-ELECTION, as Written by an Anglo Friend In 1990, my father Carlos came to the United States from Colombia. As we say within the family or with trusted friends, “he took the scenic route.” Like the vast majority of those attracted to this country for many years, Carlos wanted to […]