Last summer, I became the oldest living Murray in our family. Dad died in July. Technically, I have two cousins who are a little older, but thanks to the patriarchal convention of surname assignment, I carry the family name. So, I suppose I’m just the oldest male Murray. I have lived three score and ten … Continue reading A 70th Birthday Reflection
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Robo Santa
A Short Christmas Tale “We lost one, Mr. Dodge.” “Well, just find it. Use the geolocator.” “That’s the thing. The transmitter must be off.” “Or someone shut it down, or it’s damaged…” “Nope. The manager told me Unit 42 just walked off the job a couple of days ago. He assumed it was called back … Continue reading Robo Santa
Friendship
Fifty years ago, give-or-take, our family car was rear-ended by a Pontiac. Three of my classmates were with me, on our way to play in church on a Sunday morning. I was driving the nearly new station wagon, which had “cruise control,” a new option at the time. I had it set on 55 mph. … Continue reading Friendship
Shadows
A short Thanksgiving story. Not a prediction. Merely a possibility. “I told you. The plan is to return in another 223 local star system years,” Rodof stated. “But they might need our help sooner than that,” Mas replied. “I’m not sure it was right to help them as much as we have already.” “But we’ve … Continue reading Shadows
Musings on Pogo
“We have met the enemy, and he is us.” This line, from the comic strip, Pogo, by Walt Kelly, signaled the stark realization that we are responsible for the condition of the Earth. While it may be tempting to blame multinational corporations or "big government" for any damage, we accept it as the price we … Continue reading Musings on Pogo
Letter to Senators
I sent this letter to my Senator yesterday. It is really an open letter to all Senators. I moved to Indiana in 1980 and have been registered as a Republican for 51 years. My parents were life-long Republicans. I was born in the Eisenhower era and learned to respect and admire many of what I … Continue reading Letter to Senators
The World According to Lottie
Lottie was born in 1935, two years after the Enabling Act, which effectively suspended the German Constitution, granting the Fuhrer virtually unlimited power. As a young girl Lottie lived in Germany during WWII. She told us her mother received a Gold Motherhood Medal (for having more than eight children). We knew Lottie (not her real … Continue reading The World According to Lottie
Do Not Harm
I’m grateful to Domenic Spera for being a good mentor to me. My first year in grad school was also his first year as a faculty member at Indiana University. I was privileged to be assigned to his Jazz Ensemble, and I benefitted from his teaching more than I realized at the time. I’ve written … Continue reading Do Not Harm
Tests
“Will this be on the test?” As you might imagine, in four decades of teaching I heard this question numerous times. Of course, I tested students and provided little quizzes to help prepare them for tests. In my recording techniques class, I administered one-on-one tests, so my students could show me they knew their way … Continue reading Tests
Loss
My Dad came from a generation that rarely shared emotions. I don’t recall him ever telling me, “I love you.” I remember he cried on three occasions – when his mother died, when Mom died, and when my brother had a stroke. His emotions did become more apparent in the last decade or so of … Continue reading Loss
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