“Is ‘Hallelujah’ a Christmas song?” asks a friend. He has a doubtful look on his face. He heard the song as part of a Christmas compilation. Leonard Cohen aficionado that he knows I am, he figures I would have an answer. As a piece of music, ‘Hallelujah’ is a story all its own. The … [Read more...] about The Minor Fall/the Major Lift
Once in a blue moon
A week ago an email database of mine disappeared. Gone from the server, no clear explanation of how it happened other than an unfortunate glitch in the process of moving my website/blog from one server to another. That’s reason enough to warrant freaking out (or appeal to the Russians for … [Read more...] about Once in a blue moon
That deeper thing called Voice
Today had me hankering for a dose of Bob Dylan. Not the ‘Freewheelin’ Bob reminding me there ain’t no use in wondering why or the Rainy Day Bob inviting me to toke up, get stoned. Either of those classic Dylan songs would certainly take me back, maybe even reassure me of the power of protest, … [Read more...] about That deeper thing called Voice
Hey, Siri
My husband does not own a cell phone. Repeat: he does not own a cell phone/does not want one. And truth be known he has reason to resist. He runs a business from home. When he leaves the house to do errands, etc., he does not want to be bothered. From a standpoint of observing the almost … [Read more...] about Hey, Siri
The road taken
A dream the other night had me rounding a bend onto a city waterfront. I was alone, walking, backpack on my shoulder, no sense of any particular destination along that waterfront. Isn’t that the way it is in dreams—the tease they bring to the waking mind, figure out this one, no neatly spelled … [Read more...] about The road taken
Young at Heart
July 1985. I’m behind the counter of Farmhouse, Inc., an East Hampton design shop my husband opened with the man who would have been his partner had he not died. It’s Saturday night. We play Frank Sinatra music, always a draw. It had all the markings of a good plan. Keith, my husband’s assistant … [Read more...] about Young at Heart