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Posts published in “Essays”

Do Not Go Gentle…

As a lifelong vagabond, I grew up used to entering new worlds of local customs, identities, standards, and mythologies — never knowing how long each new encounter might last (Dad’s frequent transfers from one military…

This? I Do Not Understand These

Things I’m unable to comprehend: Greeting Cards I’ve never understood why greeting cards are so expensive. It’s a folded piece of cardboard with flowers or kittens on the front and inside something deeply deep, like…

Appreciating 2024; Anticipating 2025

The New Year that was about to happen has now arrived. Worldwide communication fills the air with dire predictions, warnings and laments. It is hard to remember a world in which you had to wait…

Mistletoe

Why does the presence of mistletoe –a parasitic plant that roots in oaks and other host trees– confer the right to kiss whoever you're with? The answer occurred to John Lee, MD, a family practitioner…

Pot Pulp

The paperback cover of Marijuana Girl that ran in yesterday's AVA was provided by Michael R. Aldrich, PhD – one of two that accompanied a review of the book in O'Shaughnessy's. Dr. Aldrich wrote: ‘Marijuana…

Remembering Richard Petersen

I was driving through the County last week and my mind began to travel along with me back to a time when I was younger. I thought about several people who I truly miss now…

Christmas Truce

This is from Randy Rowland, a member of Veterans for Peace in Seattle (and a leader of the Presidio “Mutiny” in 1968). We drove to Sarasota, Florida to check out a theater presentation called “All…

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