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Why did I think this play was going to be funny? It’s not. Distressing would be more like it. But I’m not complaining. Sometimes it’s better to have painful truths sneak up on you. For if you knew they were going to confront you head on, you might decide to make take strategic turn before…
November 11, 2019. One hundred and one years since the Armistice that made 11 a.m. of the eleventh day of the eleventh month a moment for reflection and remembrance. Inevitably on this day, the veterans who come first to my mind are my mother’s three brothers, who served overseas during World War II. (A fourth…
Why travel? Why spend a week or two or three plus your hard-earned dollars —to see, well, whatever you choose to see? Last year Mr. Penfire and I spent three weeks in Italy. Those weeks were filled with new experiences, excursions we had planned and unexpected surprises—a few wrong turns, a couple of mishaps, and…
Writing “The Battalion Artist” – What was Nat Thinking?
On June 21, 2012, Nat Bellantoni, age 91, told his daughter Nancy he wanted to write a book. “Well, you better hurry up!” Nancy said. Even now, even as he neared death, it was possible to joke with Nat. But he was serious. “I want a book about my paintings.” The eyes of father and…
Day Seven: (Part Two) The City of Morro Bay web site summarizes the facts: Morro Rock is a State Historic Landmark. It is the most visible of 9 similar peaks—the Nine Sisters—which stretch from San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay, formed about 23 million years ago from the plugs (whatever they are) of long-extinct volcanoes….
It’s taken me two years plus to…finally…write about the seven-day California Road Trip Mr. Penfire and I took with our great friends, Joan and Dave. Thanks for following along. Who knows were I might decide to travel back to next! Day Seven (Part One): Our last morning “on the road.” After breakfast it was up…
Day Six: I can’t figure how anybody could ever pass by here and not stop to see what surely must be one of the most remarkable houses in America. We enjoyed our complimentary breakfast at the Fog Catcher Inn and headed straight up Route 1 to the The Hearst Castle, parked the car, and nearly trotted…
Day Five (Part two) – Carmel to Cambria with a Slight Detour I had promised Joan Coastal Redwoods and by golly we were going to find some. (Yes. Yes. We had seen countless giant sequoias, biggest trees on the planet. But Joan wanted to see the tallest. These are two very different species; and the…
Day Four – Drive to Carmel by the Sea. Yep! It’s along way across the San Joaquin Valley. 200+ miles. But time goes quickly when you’re in a car with good friends, and it’s especially helpful when the route is pretty straightforward. It’s definitely an eye-opener for New Englanders whose entire state is about the…
And so, I continue the saga of the seven-day California Road Trip Mr. Penfire and I took with our friend Joan and Dave…and track the chain of events that converted my the three sheets of paper I started out with…to 3 1/2 pounds of books, booklets, brochures, newsletters, maps, and information sheets. Day Three: We…