I have been thinking a lot about duty lately. In a few hours it will be Memorial Day here in the U.S. It is a day for commemorating those who died while serving in the armed forces. People who join the military know about duty and about serving the greater good. And they often carry […]
Tag: Covid-19
40. The Control Mirage
The other day I had to shake my head as I watched a video news clip on television. A foolish old man in a black mask had left his hospital room to wave frantically to well-wishers from a limousine. Then he returned to his hospital room. It was his way of showing that he controlled […]
36. Dealing With Disaster – Part 1
For this post on disaster and its aftermath, my wife can tell her story better than I can. The day was sunny, the air crisp, the temperature perfect. It was my second day arriving at work after a whirlwind tour of Italy. I was just about to enter the converted bank where my office was […]
34. Lessons on Perspective
Lately, I have been on edge about many things. I feel trapped in my home by SARS-CoV-2, angry that I cannot go to Italy when I want or just visit with friends and family. My wife and I have been talking a lot about keeping things in perspective. She believes that arrogance and a sense […]
25. The Conversation
When my wife was single, she lived in a three-unit apartment house. The owners occupied the first floor. Hailing from Spain, they retained many of their Spanish customs. For example, in their tiny back yard, they set up a long table under a pergola where they would spend many Sunday afternoons enjoying hearty meals with […]
22. Working Disabled
My work record is very spotty. As a man with physical challenges, I guess I’m lucky to have any work record at all. These days, I’m even luckier not to need a job anymore. When I moved for good to the U.S. about 20 years ago, I never thought that anyone would hire me. This […]
18. Friendships Are Treasure
I never gave much thought to the nature of friendship. If I got along with someone, if we had things to talk or joke about, and if we seemed pleased to see each other, to me, that was a friendship. Since moving away from Italy and settling in the U.S., I have come to examine […]
10. The North/South Divide
As an Italian national who lives outside of Italy, I am like an eagle in an aerie, able to watch what is happening throughout my homeland. And let me admit, right off the bat, that I am biased in favor of my beloved Southern Italy. I’m not the first to notice that one effect of […]
8. How Many Homes?
One phenomenon of living in the U.S. that has struck me is how mobile its people are. In particular, I am amazed at how often people move from one home to another. In the U.S. there is a strong sense that changing homes is a forward motion, a progression. In Italy, particularly in the south, […]
4. A Tap on the Shoulder
A buddy of mine whom I’ve known since I was very small was hospitalized a few day ago. He just died of the virus that’s ravaging the Earth. Another friend is on a respirator, in the fight of her life against cancer. In the last 10 years or so I’ve lost many friends and cousins […]
