As the family took up the chairs next to me at the pool, I focused on the children. Three of them - ages about four to seven. As I looked over at the parents, they appeared to be a little younger than me. Flo and I had been away for about a week and I missed our grandson, Jackson, and the upcoming birth of another grandson was foremost on my mind as I watched the children in the water. I fantasized about my grandchildren -- perhaps a vacation sometime in the future.  

1. Meditate for 15 minutes   2. Go outside no matter what the weather and express love out loud for all that you see. Every tree, building, person   3. Write the positive aspects of at least 5 different things   4. Acknowledge the universal forces that are outside you and appreciate that they are supporting you.   Thanks, Abraham.   How do you spell relief?

    I have written on this topic before but I like it.

  This blog is not about politics. This blog is about friendship.    

One week ago today little baby Murray was born. All seemed well at first. But by Tuesday he was transferred to the neo natal intensive care unit at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital on 68th St. Pure joy turned into absolute fear. Excitement to worry. Tears of happiness into tears of painful sadness.  

6 years. A Spanish man was fined after his employer discovered that he had been absent from work for six years without notifying anyone.   The employers at a water company in Spain believed that Joaquin Garcia, 69-years-old, was being supervised by local authorities while the deputy mayor thought the opposite to be true. Local newspapers have given Garcia the nickname "el funcionario fantasma" or "the phantom official."  

I try not to live in or dwell on the past.  I seek to be in the moment and make my memories.  Memories like my recent trip to Cuba where everything was old, but new to me.  A unique entry into the Twilight Zone.  You never get a second chance to make or have a positive first impression and realizing that I wallowed in the moment.  The Lesson learned is to try to be more adventurous and risk anxiety and insecurity which are conditions which plague me.  Same old same old is just that.

I like beaches. And I like walking on beaches. During such walks, I often pick up beach rock, shells, and, occasionally, a piece of beach glass. A recent walk on the beach in Kaua’i yielded a few small pieces of lava stone. One in particular resembled a miniature volcano. A perfect momento of our trip.