It’s a puzzle how my wife and I can be different in so many ways and yet be so happily married. Maybe it’s because we’re similar in a few really significant ways — like how we view the world and what we believe it takes to make a relationship work — and different in lots of less important ways, like what foods and movies we like, or the fact that Jennifer can work while she watches TV. I can barely chew gum while I watch TV. . . .
Category: Personal
Confusion Around “I’m Sorry”
The other day my mother told me she’d misplaced something. “I’m sorry,” I said, to which she replied, “Well it’s not your fault.”
This response to “I’m sorry” used to leave me flummoxed. It stems, of course, from the fact that the phrase can mean two different things: an apology or an expression of sympathy. Sometimes the meaning is clear from the context. If you were to say “I’m so sorry!” to someone upon learning that their spouse had recently died, it’s unlikely their response would be “Well, it not your fault.” But in other circumstances there’s room for confusion. . . .
The Covid Minus-30
I imagine no one cares about this but me, but I just have to mark an accomplishment. . . .
Bonnie is Back
Back in July I blogged about our next-door neighbor’s dog, Bonnie, whom we took care of for a few days while our neighbors were traveling. This weekend we’re dog-sitting Bonnie again, but we haven’t had quite as easy a time of it. Bonnie, it seems, is not fully house-trained. . . .
The Big Send
Yesterday was the day everyone who had written letters to Democratic voters under the auspices of Vote Forward, encouraging them to vote in the November 3rd election, mailed their letters. The timing was intended to have the letters arrive close enough to Election Day to have the maximum impact. . . .
Willowood Pottery
Jennifer, my mother and I drove over to our friend Caryn Newman’s pottery sale in Ewing, New Jersey, today. Caryn is an amateur-turned-professional potter, and proprietor of Willowood Pottery. . . .
An Overnight on the Jersey Shore
Jennifer, my mother and I drove out to Spring Lake, NJ, yesterday, stayed overnight at The Breakers hotel, and returned this morning. We took a walk on the boardwalk when we arrived, enjoyed an early dinner outside by the hotel pool, and had a room service breakfast this morning. We figured this was our last chance this year to do something like this before the weather gets too cold. . . .
Safety vs. Expediency Follow-Up
Last month I posted a letter I’d written to my gastroenterologist after being told that I would not be able to wait for my examination outside the building. Below is a follow-up letter I sent him yesterday, for anyone who is curious as to how the whole thing turned out. . . .
My Town Has a Mayor. Who Knew?
Alright, this is embarrassing. My mother asked me this week if the town I live, Lawrence Township, NJ, in has a mayor. She knew that some towns have executives with other titles, like First Selectman. I’ve lived here for five years, and when she asked me that question I realized I didn’t know. I had to Google it. . . .
Watching Less TV
Here’s an unexpected development: I’ve more or less stopped watching television. . . .
And I suspect it’s not just because I have other things to do; I have a hunch it’s also, ironically, because there’s so much TV to watch. . . .