Theme with Variations
Every year at Vanaprastha, autumn creeps down the Blue Ridge Mountains into the Rockfish Valley. Typically, some trees’ leaves change ahead of the curve. In the case of the maple in back of our house, part of the tree got a head start. Nature’s seasons are like a...
Roaring Brooks
Freya darted ahead while Heathcliff walked on-leash with me down the stone trail from the house to the driveway. It was late afternoon last Tuesday, and we’d had a tremendous storm. I heard a roar. We followed the sound down the hill to the bottom of the ravine....
Heathcliff’s Injury and Tips for Recovery
I really like to chase deer and turkeys up and down the mountain. About a month ago, I went running and a few minutes later came back limping like a three-legged dog. I’ve come home lame before, but this time my leg didn’t get better. Keith and Carole took me in...
Clothing Memories
In the 50s and 60s, my father dressed like Father Knows Best – baggy trousers and jacket with wide lapels, white shirt (always white), striped necktie, brown socks and indestructible brown leather shoes. He’d stand all six feet four inches with his left hand in his...
Simple Creatures
One day last week, after our dog Freya returned from her morning run, Heathcliff and I headed out for a walk. We’re both at that point in life where a vigorous “on leash” walk outweighs the advantages of running. Along the way, a three-to-four inch copper-colored...