Songs That Tug

While running an errand today, the song “The Rose” by Bette Midler came on. I don’t think I’ve heard her sing that song for over twenty years. For those who don’t remember, “The Rose” came out with the movie of the same name in 1979. I may have been singing along, when about halfway through, I started getting emotional. By... read more

The Ups and Downs of Summer Gardens

I find it fascinating that gardens really have a mind of their own. We have tried for years to grow zucchinis. We get nice blossoms and then nothing. But our neighbor directly across the street grows them in such quantity; she gave me the two giant ones below. I was able to return the favor by giving her tomatoes and basil which love growing in... read more

Book Review – Circe by Madeline Miller

My book club started off the summer with a wonderful book. “Circe” came out in 2018 to great reviews, but I’ve found that doesn’t prove much as I was extremely disappointed with “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Initially, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy a book about a Greek goddess. My recollection of Greek mythology is extremely limited.... read more

Eternal Hills

When you see the words “eternal hills” together, you can be pretty certain it is connected to a cemetery. Recently, I learned there was an Eternal Hills Memorial Park fifteen miles north in Oceanside. I had to check it out. Typically when I visit a cemetery, there are very few living people there. But this visit was near Memorial Day, and I... read more

Visiting UCSD’s Outdoor Sculptures

On a recent visit to La Jolla, my friend Penne took me through a part of the UCSD campus I hadn’t seen before. With six undergraduate colleges and five graduate schools spread over 1000 acres, it’s quite easy to miss something. There are nineteen pieces of commissioned art as a result of a partnership between the college and The Stuart... read more