Monthly Archives: December 2010

Camp Pendleton

   When I was 20 I entered Camp Pendleton with Lisa. According to Marine records, we never left. We were visiting her mother in Laguna Beach that summer week, and we were avoiding her conversation that evening. Lisa borrowed the … Continue reading

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What is a Question

When I was 21 I read the most elegant reasoning about honesty. I was into the fourth book of Gulliver’s Travels, and when the houyhnhnm expressed incredulity about lying – when he considered that language was created to communicate so … Continue reading

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Testing

 When I was 8 I began to notice tests. Before then I remember some arithmetic drills, but I’m not sure they were administered by a teacher; I seem to recall columns of numbers that Mom gave me to add and … Continue reading

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Uh Oh

Imagine you’re sitting in your house in coastal northern California, like I am, and listening to an exciting weather forecast. The meteorologists are expecting a storm of significant force. Local creeks may flood and there could be trouble in the … Continue reading

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Pavement

   When I was 15 it seemed like all I wanted to do was walk around outside. Especially in winter, when the streets were less crowded, especially at night when the scene was more inspiring. My parents objected. It wasn’t about … Continue reading

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Any Questions

I went on a holy land cruise this year. After I booked the trip I realized that the holy land isn’t actually coastal, which meant a long bus ride every shore excursion to get to the holy part that wasn’t … Continue reading

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Loma Prieta

 When I was 39, Loma Prieta quaked and stopped the World Series. There were far more tragic consequences, and at the time we heard rumors about roads collapsing, but it was that bit, about the World Series, that made me … Continue reading

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What Was That?

   When I was around 9, I lined up the milk glasses rim to rim, and tried to fill them by pouring continuously. No hesitation between glasses. A mess on the counter. When I was around 10 I threw the … Continue reading

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Streets

   When I was 41, Katie was between 14 and 15. She had her own social life and she was allowed to go out at night. We agreed on a curfew time and with one memorable exception (I was expected … Continue reading

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Supplements

     While walking home with groceries last week, I got to thinking about vitamin supplements. As usual I’d forgotten to even acquire mine, let alone take them. I recollect those mornings when Mom came at me with the vitamins. I … Continue reading

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