The UP

I have friends who have spent sizable chunks of this winter in either Florida, Palm Springs, Mexico, Spain, or the Galapagos. My wife is presently in Thailand. I, on the other hand, am writing this blog from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Two thoughts come to mind...

Banana Slug String Band

Usually there is a guitar resting on a guitar stand adjacent the fireplace at the nature center where I volunteer. Last week the stand was there, but the guitar was gone. When Cindy, the head naturalist, walked past the front desk, I asked her where it was. “Someone...

Too Cold to Take the Car

Last month there were days when I shoveled windblown snow in subzero temperatures. Meanwhile Manyu was picking fresh mangoes for breakfast from her sister’s small orchard in Thailand. On January 23, the temperature difference between our two locales was 110°F (-20...

Goodbye to an Old Dog

For as old as I am, I’ve suffered very few serious gut punches. I recall five: divorce from my first wife, my dad’s death, Manyu’s sadness at her dad’s death, Clare’s depression at having her study abroad program cut short due to COVID, and now the death of our dog....

A Recent Dream

Last night I had a dream about a new Disney park called Life. One of the attractions within the park only admitted the dads, and it was called Work. Once I went in, I couldn’t get out. Ordinarily I’d be bothered if I found myself dreaming in clichés, but this one got...
Steven Simpson