Last week, I was walking to the barn to feed the horses. The morning was so beautiful, it felt like a stab to my heart and I suddenly knew Spring was my favorite season. This surprised me. For decades, Autumn was my choice. What had changed? Or, what had changed in me?
Continue reading “Springtime”
My birthday is April 10th. Of historical interest, Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9th, 1865. On April 10th, he issued General Order No. 9, his farewell to the Army of Northern Virginia. In it, Lee stated he wished to “avoid useless sacrifice”, which has given rise to my birthday wish this year.
Continue reading “Me and Lee”
Baseball has started, which made me think about dad. How old was I when we first played catch? When he taught me to throw and catch a baseball? I know I was young. I also thought about some of the other life lessons that were a part of that process.
Continue reading “Playing Catch”
My friend Evan and I were checking out a trail for our running group, The DC Hash House Harriers (DCH3). As we followed the route, it became clear Evan and I have different definitions of what constitutes a hill. We decided to do a joint blog about hills, each writing half without input from the other. This is the result.
Continue reading “What Defines a Hill”
At Rohan Farm, we have five main pastures or paddocks for the horses. In Cathy’s and my shorthand, we call them: The Back Field, The Jenny Craig, The Barn Paddock, The Field Near the House, and The Front Field. For us, each area has its own particular use.
Continue reading “Pastures and Paddocks”
On March 9th of last week, Adam Ray would have turned 40. Adam was the son of my West Point classmate Jim and his wife Donna. He was killed by an IED in Afghanistan on February 9th, 2010, one month shy of his 24th birthday. The administration’s cavalier attitude about the current war with Iran is raising old ghosts from past conflicts.
Continue reading “Adam”
In the summer of ‘82 while stationed in Germany, we drove to what was then Yugoslavia* for a vacation. Along the way, we stopped for lunch in Venice. That is what you do when you are young and in love. Not for the night. Not for a couple of days. Just lunch, because, why the hell not?
Continue reading “A 1980s Selfie in Venice”
Founded in 1802, West Point is the oldest American military academy. When I graduated in 1978, I was the 35,591st graduate. Between 1802 and 1977, there were less than 300 black graduates. Let that sink in. Less than 300. Henry O. Flipper was the first in 1877.
Continue reading “Henry O Flipper”
Since it started last year, I have followed the Buddhist monks’ Walk for Peace. By the time they end in DC next week, they will have walked 2,300 miles. I knew they would pass through Virginia and was determined to see them. A few days ago, near Spotsylvania Courthouse, I did.
Continue reading “The Walk for Peace”
With apologies to the late, great, John Lennon, Instant Karma got us … In a good way. It happened unexpectedly last Friday night. Cathy and I, suffering a bit from cabin fever due to our recent sleetapocalypse and frigid temperatures, left the farm and drove to Warrenton for a dinner out.
Continue reading “Instant Karma”
Live Life Exuberantly 