Monthly Archives: May 2012
The Guy Who Walks
June 2001 Coming home from the post office last Saturday, I saw a sign for “Yard Sales” on Elizabeth Street, and turned the corner in search of treasure. A gentleman with a large moustache was leaning back in a folding chair, and at his feet was a wooden box filled with old bottles. My heart […]
Star Wars in Skaneateles
November 1, 2007 The high point of Halloween for me was when Princess Leia peed in our garden. She had arrived in the company of Boba Fett (the bounty hunter), an Imperial Stormtrooper, and Yoda. They had been out in the galaxy all evening, so no one was too surprised when the Princess began to […]
How Far?
December 16, 2002 I have been looking into Presidential Succession lately. I am sure you remember the general outline from high school civics: first the vice president, then the Speaker of the House, then the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. It gets interesting with cabinet officers, ranked by when their office was established. But […]
Suzi Quatro
May 18, 1975 This piece originally appeared in the Syracuse New Times and was written with Roland Sweet, with whom I happily shared the evening, the work, the credit and the blame. * * * We had read the press releases and seen all that leather. The guys on Suzi Quatro’s album covers sure packed […]
Synchronicity
November 1998 I love the synchronicity of things. Last week at work, I was studying the history of the U.S. national soccer team, and my reading had brought me up to the Berlin Olympics. I found a National Archives spot on the Web that talked about them. The AAU, two governors and the U.S. rep […]
Temptation
May 2002 I don’t know how much longer I can afford to have friends. Last week, it was Dorothy, visiting from Ithaca, buying me a drink at Mirbeau, settling me into a brown leather sofa, and then softly saying, “Margarite Yourcenar’s Memoirs of Hadrian is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever […]
A Tribute
October 9, 2004 When autumn comes to Skaneateles, there are magical days when the lake shore, the parks, the fine homes, the quaint shops and even the cheery passers-by all smell of manure. I’m not sure which way the wind has to be blowing or whose farm is setting the tone, but I have to […]
Use the Force
March 3, 2001 We have new birds. After Blueberry’s passing the house was too quiet. So Laurie returned to Parrots of Distinction for new feathered companionship. They were out of the parakeet business; the priest whose hobby was raising parakeets had moved on. But there is an upgrade. Blueberry was $12.50, which worked out to […]
WWJD
January 2000 I was in the P&C this morning picking up some flowers for Abbie to give to her boyfriend’s mother (“Just a small arrangement,” she specified in her note) and my young, blonde, tall cashier, according to her name tag, was Lisa. And just under name was a stick-on label from the bakery, which […]
Two Encounters
April 2000 I had a quintessentially Skaneateles encounter at the post office a few Saturdays ago. A man was wrapping two packages while waiting in line, and he was wearing a cap bearing the Sleeman’s Brewing and Malting logo. “Nice hat,” I said. “I have a friend who is a big Sleeman’s fan.” And he […]
Faithful Readers 