Author Archives: kihm
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 […]
Walking on West Lake
November 10, 2001 They say that golf is a good walk spoiled, but I was still a way from the Country Club when my Sunday morning walk went into the dumper. A driver was angered by my presence on West Lake Street and he let me know it. West Lake is a quiet street that […]
Waltzing
June 16, 2006 The reception for my niece’s wedding was held at a new hotel on the campus of an executive office park somewhere in Virginia. I say “somewhere” because I can’t remember where, and there were no landmarks. It had probably been a cornfield the year before. The hotel had three ballrooms and the […]
Words to Live & Die By
Quotations and passages on death and dying, life and living, here for insight, perspective, comfort. “I sat down in the middle of the garden, where snakes could scarcely approach unseen, and leaned my back against a warm yellow pumpkin… I kept as still as I could. Nothing happened. I did not expect anything to happen. […]
Words to Play By
“For when the One Great Scorer comes To write against your name, He marks – not that you won or lost – But how you played the Game.” — Grantland Rice “Grantland Rice can go to hell as far as I’m concerned.” — Gene Autry “I liked to win, but more than anything, I loved […]
Faithful Readers 