In The Carol of the Drum, the little boy’s dilemma is juxtaposed to the glory of the hoped-for King of Israel. The aspiring young percussionist is too poor to honor the king with a suitable gift. What can he do? He plays his drum for the baby Jesus. He plays “his best for him” and … Continue reading Gifts of the Season
Trump’s Overcoat
Perhaps we didn’t notice much when he first took office, but as Donald Trump appeared over and over (and over and over) in public, one thing became apparent to the astute observer: as he sought to project a certain image—strength and confidence—he wore a remarkably similar outfit: a black overcoat over his business suit, his … Continue reading Trump’s Overcoat
H.W. and My Dad
During the past week, many commentators observed how the death of George H.W. Bush marked the end of an era—not just the last of the “greatest generation” to occupy the White House, but more significantly the loss of civility, kindness and human decency among those who occupy the Oval Office. Culminating in a funeral service … Continue reading H.W. and My Dad
Words, Context, Logic Matter
I returned from a particularly successful and satisfying trip to Pakistan to discover that little had changed in my homeland. If anything, Thanksgiving week had brought a deeper intensity to the troublesome issues that were roiling the news cycle before I left: the Mueller investigation offered new layers of intrigue and examples of unmitigated greed, … Continue reading Words, Context, Logic Matter
Impermanent, Imperfect, Incomplete
While on vacation some weeks back, Blythe and I visited the Gamble House in Pasadena, a great example of the American arts and crafts movement and featuring influence from Japanese architecture. During the docent’s tour, I was struck by her references to a principle in the Japanese aesthetic called wabi-sabi that formed a basis for the house’s design, … Continue reading Impermanent, Imperfect, Incomplete