It was my pride that I was taken in as an equal, in spirit as well as in fact. From then on, everything was beautiful, and the voyage promised to be a happy one. John Griffith (Jack) London (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916) From the earliest recollection of my childhood I wanted to …
A Writer’s Diary – One Tenth Of One Percent
…for good or evil, we are a single people: the more we become conscious of this, the less difficult and long will be humanity’s progress toward justice and peace. Primo Levi (July 31, 1919 – April 11, 1987) Something we learned from the Human Genome Project is that the entire 7.5 billion-member human species goes …
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A Writer’s Diary – Isolation And The Ironies Of History
One hundred sixty five years ago today the Civil War between the southern states and the northern states in the Divided States of America came to an end. This was the war to end slavery, bring about equality between the races and unite the divided states into one nation of one people. It is estimated …
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A Writer’s Diary – The Dehumanization Of A Human
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. Viktor Frankl (March 26, 1905–September 2, 1997) Whenever nations go to war there are two events which must take place immediately. The first is …
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A Writer’s Diary – Isolation Day 70 – Is It Worth Dying For?
Today is Day 70 of isolation here in Loja, Ecuador. Like most of the world, Loja is beginning to open up, slowly. Yesterday, our restriction status went from red (strict restrictions) to yellow (relaxed restrictions) and a later curfew from 2:00pm to 9:00pm. Everyone is still required to wear a mask when outside and gloves …
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A Writer’s Diary – Donald Trump, Serial Killer Extraordinaire – Day 66
On day 66 of isolation as I count the number of friends and family lost to the CoVid-19 virus, my thoughts once again turn political and to the President who failed America. A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people, usually in service of abnormal psychological gratification, with the murders …
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A Writer’s Diary – The Ritual In The Routines
There are certain things I do everyday. I get out of bed, I go to the bathroom, I wash my face, I brush my teeth, I make up my bed, I look outside at my mountain, I look at the sky to check the weather, I put water in the microwave, I put leaves or …
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A Writer’s Diary – Remembering Mom
Every man or woman who is sane, every man or woman who has the feeling of being a person in the world, and for whom the world means something, every happy person, is in infinite debt to a woman. Donald Woods Winnicott (April 07, 1896 – January 25, 1971) This Hollow Emptiness In My Soul …
A Writer’s Diary – Asking For What We Need
Why do we make asking for what we need so difficult? There should be no shame in asking in the same manner there should be no shame in saying, ”Yes or No.” No one is obligated to give just because they are asked. For whatever reason we make the decision to assist or not is …
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A Writer’s Diary – Isolation Day 50 – Everything Is In Its Place
Following the abrupt, unexpectedness of a heart attack three and a half years ago I started to put my end of life wishes in order. You know what I’m talking about, those things growing roots in the back of your memory to prevent them from moving forward and getting done. Those things which claim squatter …
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A Writer’s Diary – The Downward Spiral Of America
You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down — up to a man's age-old dream; the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law …
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A Writer’s Diary – Isolation Day 42 – When Will It Be Over
Somewhere in the area of twenty two years ago I watched an episode of Star Trek Voyager. I remember being a fan of the first two Star Trek series Original and Next Generation but except for a few memorable episodes, Voyager never settled into my fading TV viewing habits at the time. In the Voyage …
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A Writer’s Diary – Two Fantastic Women
I love my two isolation mates. Good thing as we have shared the last month together and will most likely share at least one more. They have their room, office space and hotel duties and I have my space. We get together for delicious Ecuadorian lunches, language exchange lessons and for the occasional movie. Life …
A Writer’s Diary – The “Unexpected”
President Donald Trump has frequently insisted that "nobody" could have seen the coronavirus outbreak coming and that it "came out of nowhere." But Li Wenliang, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist in Wuhan, China who was the first to raise the alarm about a dangerous new virus saw it and notified the authorities on December 30, 2019. Trump’s …
A Writer’s Diary – Isolation – Day 33 – Happy Birthday
I made it! I completed my seventieth second voyage around the sun. Although there were occasions this last year where I was not sure I would make it? I am here today to commemorate my seventy two years of life and to jump start my seventy third. This of course is all happening from my …
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A Writer’s Diary – A Handful Of Dust
I remember every one I loss to death because I love each of them as an influential part of this life I still live. As far as I know from my limited experiences very few want to die unless they see death as a physical release from the pain they are experiencing in life. So …
A Writer’s Diary – Isolation – Day 28 – Beliefs
I have written about beliefs before (Beliefs Part I and Part II). I am writing about them again this week because one of my isolation mates is a fundamentalist christian. Basically fundamentalism is a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles emphasizing a literal interpretation of the Bible …
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A Writer’s Diary – It’s Not The End Of The World You Know
While growing up in Trenton, New Jersey whenever my brother or I would face a defeat in life and feel life was no longer worth living our mom would always say, “It’s not the end of the world, you know.” As an adult facing so many of life’s never ending traumas, I kept her words …
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A Writer’s Diary – Being Old Is A Gift, Sometimes
Each day I search the numbers. The newly infected, the newly dead, the total infected, the total dead. The numbers keep rising. I search the countries and states where my friends and families live, Estonia, Cuba, Wales, Spain, Fuji, Australia, New York, New Jersey, California. People I usually only contacted once or twice a year, …
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A Writer’s Diary – What’s Next?
I ended a recent diary entry with three words: Life Goes On! I have no doubt whatsoever that it will. It always does. Life survives. Through famines, floods, plagues, damnation, wars, the impact of meteors and the carelessness of humankind, life survives. It always has and always will unless we kill or destroy the planet. …
A Writer’s Diary – Isolation – Day Twenty
Today is the twentieth day of stay at home isolation. I feel as if I lucked out with this situation because I am in isolation with two others and am not alone. We spend most of our time separated in our rooms but we share two meals together each day, language lessons, an occasional film …
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A Writer’s Diary – The Arc Of Existence
This is an extraordinary time full of vital, transformative movements that could not be foreseen. It’s also a nightmarish time. Full engagement requires the ability to perceive both. — Rebecca Solnit I have been reading quite a bit lately about the arc of the CoVid-19 pandemic. Based upon computer models and projections scientists show how …
A Writer’s Diary – A New Normal
While living in Cuenca I would occasionally see people wearing face masks. That was long before CoVid-19 came into our lives. The masks were used to prevent the inhaling of bus and car fumes while walking. I carried a handkerchief to cover my nose and mouth when a bus approached or I would hold my …
A Writer’s Diary – An Abundance Of Caution
I am and have been for the vast parts of my life a loner so the isolation and social restrictions resulting from CoVid-19 have not affected me to a great degree psychologically, but it has physically. I have never enjoyed exercising indoors or even at health clubs except for playing tennis inside during the cold …
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A Writer’s Diary – The Plague
A plague is spreading. People are dying. Everyone is ordered to quarantine at home as the local doctor works around the clock to save victims. There are acts of heroism and acts of shame; there are those who think only of themselves, and those who are engaged for the greater good. The human condition is …
A Writer’s Diary – Isolation – Day Twelve – Routines
As much as I dislike having a routine, I seem to be settling into one. I initially thought I would be living in the hotel alone during the isolation period. I stocked up on canned beans and vegetables, pasta, coffee, and chocolate bars. I only have a small microwave to heat items so my options …
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A Writer’s Diary – Who Is Leading The United States?
Infighting, turf wars and a president more concerned with the stock market and media coverage than policy have defined the Trump White House. They have also defined how it has handled a pandemic. -NYT March 16, 2020 I was living in New Jersey during Donald Trump’s Atlantic City fiasco. He has claimed bankruptcy for his …
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A Writer’s Diary – Isolation – Day Eight – We Are Family
This is day eight of the decree for all Ecuadorians to stay at home. The only thing I miss so far has been my daily walks. Two of the sisters of the family who run the hotel chose to isolate here because they would not be permitted to travel to the hotel from home each …
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A Writer’s Diary – The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA is listed, rightfully so, as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. I spent time there during my early cycling days riding along it rims and hiking many of its trails. In fact the Grand Canyon was responsible for my getting the travel bug during my forties …
A Writer’s Diary – Contagion On The Beach
Today looking out over the empty streets of my hometown, Loja, Ecuador, I had a flashback of sorts to a film I saw as a young teenager named On The Beach. On the Beach is a 1959 American post-apocalyptic science fiction drama film from United Artists, produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, that stars …
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A Writer’s Diary – Isolation – Day Four
Some of my friends think I write too much about death but that is only because most of them fear death. They don’t want to think or talk about it. I do not fear it. Death is inevitable for every creature given life from single cells to whales. How can one ignore the inevitable. I …
A Writer’s Diary – Rules For Old Men
Some years back following his death in 2009, I came across a passage about Walter Cronkite and his Rules For Old Men. As I was not old at the time, I set them aside for future reference. “They might come in handy one day.” Then I forgot about them until the other day when what …
A Writer’s Diary – What Am I?
Other than a mass of tissues, organs, muscle, bones and fluids held together by a porous membrane of skin, what am I? I am dependent upon a pumping muscle to keep the fluids running, air circulating and me alive. I came into existence through the joining of two cells from a million possible combinations. I …
A Writer’s Diary – Isolation – Day One
As a man who cherishes his solitude, I do not anticipate any problems with the imposed isolation by the government of Ecuador. They asked for all citizens to remain in their homes for the next three weeks, although necessary trips for food and/or banking are exempt. If you need to leave your home, the government …
A Writer’s Diary – All We Need Is Love
I believe in love. It is the invisible force which holds humanity together in the same manner gravity holds the universe together. Our love for our fellow man/woman is about to be tested by covid-19. Humanity usually unites when there is a crisis. I remember the citizens of the Unites States taking care of their …
A Writer’s Diary – Covid 19 – Truth and Transparency
The shame of our society is that the world no longer recognizes the truth. Li Wenliang, a 34-year-old ophthalmologist in Wuhan, China who first raised the alarm about a dangerous new virus in an online forum on December 30, 2019 was punished by police and forced to declare his information was unfounded. He later died …
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