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A Brooklyn weekend of gathering together

The many years ago that I lived in New York City, I never made it to Brooklyn. I didn’t ever have a compelling reason to go there until last weekend, and I wished that I didn’t have to attend the gathering. It was different than any funeral I’ve ever been to. Last month, my nephew, Michael, died suddenly. It took a few weeks to corral family schedules and create plans for what turned out to be a loving memorial. I seldom get to see my nieces and nephews. It seems we only get together now for weddings and funerals – one of the challenges of a scattered family. My late ...

Rounding Third: A lifelong love for golden smiles

A giant of the film industry died just recently, and his passing brought back a flood of memories. As I explored those moments, I realized that in a small, eye-opening way, Robert Redford changed my life. But first, a little history. Four years before I saw Redford, a date invited me to my first theater evening. I was seventeen. And thrilled. So sophisticated! The South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Mass. was a summer destination for professional touring shows. I think the circular stage within a tent was the reason it was dubbed a “circus.” That first musical was Showboat and ...

Penny pinching in parking lots

Penny pinching in parking lots “If you see a penny pick it up – then all day you’ll have good luck.” Every time my mother bent over to pick up a penny, she said exactly that. Without fail. And she picked up every penny she saw. In her later years, her balance was not so hot. If I was walking with her and she spotted a coin, I was the bender and picker-upper. It was never an inconvenience. Mom trained me early. We did not go around staring at the ground for lost coins. But honestly, just having eagle eyes meant we found more than our share over the years. And not just ...

Finding common ground in a political minefield

By ADAM J. MENEO In the United States today, politics feels more like a war than a system of governance. Every election cycle, every news headline, and every social media post seems to hammer home the same idea: Democrats and Republicans are sworn enemies locked in an eternal struggle for power. Hyper-partisanship has poisoned not only Washington but also family dinners, workplace conversations, and even friendships. But if our political system is going to sustain itself in its current two-party format - and let’s be honest, for the foreseeable future it will — then we, as ...

Samantha the spider is in our residence

Ian has a spider. My son-in-law doesn’t actually refer to her as a pet, but he spends a lot of time checking on her well-being and reporting her progress. She hasn’t bitten him. Yet. When I visited recently, the family was discussing names. The woodchuck who often visits their deck is named Winston. No such luck for the spider – she wasn’t christened before I left. I’ll just call her Ian’s spider. Ian, my daughter Alix, and my grandchildren have been following the day-to-day activities of this arachnid. They have discovered the same lesson that I learned this summer: ...

Rounding Third: Traveling or friendship

How many miles do we travel for friendship? I had to ask myself that when the happy invitation arrived in the mail. For dear old friends, my thought is that no amount of miles is too far. In my heart, I certainly would take three flights to Patagonia, a 9-stop train ride, and walk the last five rocky miles. Uphill. Then, as I dream about a steadfast friendship, reality sets in. My pocketbook and my lower back hear that any invitation involves taking a trip, and they’re hoping the distance isn’t much beyond Jamestown. On a quiet, sunny day. This particular invite was for dear ...