Posts
Monday, November 02, 2026
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What the Living Do
Johnny, the kitchen sink has been clogged for days, some utensil probably fell down there.
And the Drano won’t work but smells dangerous, and the crusty dishes have piled up
waiting for the plumber I still haven’t called. This is the everyday we spoke of.
It’s winter again: the sky’s a deep, headstrong blue, and the sunlight pours through
the open living-room windows because the heat’s on too high in here and I can’t turn it off.
For weeks now, driving, or dropping a bag of groceries in the street, the bag breaking,
I’ve been thinking: This is what the living do. And yesterday, hurrying along those
wobbly bricks in the Cambridge sidewalk, spilling my coffee down my wrist and sleeve,
I thought it again, and again later, when buying a hairbrush: This is it.
Parking. Slamming the car door shut in the cold. What you called that yearning.
What you finally gave up. We want the spring to come and the winter to pass. We want
whoever to call or not call, a letter, a kiss—we want more and more and then more of it.
But there are moments, walking, when I catch a glimpse of myself in the window glass,
say, the window of the corner video store, and I'm gripped by a cherishing so deep
for my own blowing hair, chapped face, and unbuttoned coat that I’m speechless:
I am living. I remember you.
From What the Living Do, copyright © 1998 by Marie Howe. Used by permission of W. W. Norton. All rights reserved.
You have to listen to everyone. As an artist, you have to listen to both the executioner and the victim.
From my childhood, I remember talking to people, and the stories they told me were more interesting than what’s in books. People tell me extraordinary things, and I realize that there is nothing in the world about which we know anything for sure. Each person screams out his or her truth. You have to listen to everyone. As an artist, you have to listen to both the executioner and the victim.
SVETLANA ALEXIEVICH
Sunday, November 01, 2026
In writing, habit seems to be a much stronger force than either willpower or inspiration. Consequently there must be some little quality of fierceness until the habit pattern of a certain number of words is established. There is no possibility, in me at least, of saying, “I’ll do it if I feel like it.” One never feels like awaking day after day. In fact, given the smallest excuse, one will not work at all. The rest is nonsense. Perhaps there are people who can work that way, but I cannot. I must get my words down every day whether they are any good or not.
JOHN STEINBECK
The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated primarily on November 1 and 2 to honor and welcome back the souls of deceased loved ones. Day of the Dead - November 1: Día de los Inocentes or All Saints' Day, dedicated to the spirits of children who have passed away. • November 2: Día de los Muertos or All Souls' Day, dedicated to the spirits of adults. Origins and Significance • Mesoamerican Roots: The holiday traces back roughly 3,000 years to ancient Indigenous cultures in Mesoamerica, including the Aztecs, Toltecs, and Maya, who viewed death as a natural continuation of life rather than the end. • Catholic Fusion: During the colonial era, these pre-Hispanic death rituals blended with Roman Catholic observances—specifically All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. • Joyful Remembrance: Rather than focusing strictly on mourning, the celebration embraces color, music, and storytelling to keep the memory of ancestors alive.
Gabor Mate: The Life that Fits You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IQXUH0Nz5g
What if the difficult season you're going through is preparing you for the best chapter of your life? Sometimes, life becomes quiet before everything changes. You may feel disconnected from your old identity, uncertain about your future, or less interested in the things that once mattered to you. It can feel like you're standing between the person you used to be and the person you're becoming. But what if this season is an opportunity to grow, rediscover yourself, and prepare for a new beginning?
Linguini lost in the Pantry
Last night when I came home from the grocery store I was loading cans of plum tomatoes into my deep cupboard. I reached in to create space and I found an empty 1 pound cellophane package of linguini. It was way in the back. It had jagged mouse bites along the plastic. I grabbed a flashlight and saw many little mouse turds. I cleaned everything up. I am amazed.
Rewriting Your Love Story: Breaking the Cycle of Unavailability | Dr. Gabor Maté Healing Words of Gabor Maté Healing Words of Gabor Maté
Dr. Gabor Maté. How to stop loving people who can't love you back
Saturday, October 31, 2026
Most people who die in fires don't burn to death; they die from smoke inhalation that kills the respiratory system. that's why the fire service is going on and on about smoke detectors. These little ten-dollar gadgets are one of the truly wonderful inventions of man. The wake you up from a deep slumber so that you and your family and your dog or cat or whatever can get out of the house in time to live and call the fire department. If this sounds like a public service announcement, it is. If you don't have one, buy one today. They make great Christmas gifts. Plus they're cheap. Give a gift of love to a loved one you love. End of announcement.
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