Category Archives: Uncategorized

FREEDOM ABOVE ALL Of the various comments on my post, Homeless by Choice, a particularly lovely one was in the form of an email from Marilyn, a former student of mine when I was teaching at Gonzaga in Florence in the 1970S. She stayed with us in Orvieto that summer and we remained in touch. Now aContinue reading “Postscript to Homeless”

Perks or unexpected aspects of what happened. Well, not exactly a perk but a way of looking at the positive side of having broken my leg. My computer screen, in addition to the usual trademark Apples, accompanies them with the words “We love you”, a reminder of the presence of my sons. Thanks to them,Continue reading “Perks”

After my operation, for a few weeks I am in a clinic or struttura as they call it, named after a saint. The nuns who manage it recite their morning prayers before helping the inmates (I suppose that is what one can call them) begin their daily activities of coloring a line drawing of aContinue reading “The Clinic”

February 15, ninety six years ago just after midnight I was washed and dressed in what might be called swaddling clothes. Now almost a century later I am still being washed and clothed.but it is no longer the same for the roles, have been reversed and it is not easy to accept that it isContinue reading “Ninety Six”

A life not lived. New York City. 1950 more or less. I was in my early twenties. In my family, one listened to classical music, Mozart, Bach, Debussy. My father frowned on so-called popular music and, well, I don’t remember what he said about Frank Sinatra and, I imagine, jazz. Time had passed and atContinue reading “Jazz”

Oh, ma! Your mom is always your mom. My son dropped by – he’s in his sixties – and handed me a shirt and — a button. I suppose he could have attached it himself, although my eyesight is a lot better than his despite my years. My younger son would certainly have pulled outContinue reading “Oh, ma”

Pre-dawn mental wanderings, images of things seen, read and remembered It is still dark enough, early enough, for the street lights to be on. How luxurious to stay in bed, knowing the day’s tasks can wait, not yet urgent enough to force me to get up. I pull the covers up around my shoulders. MakesContinue reading “Mental Wanderings”

The day is drawing to a close. It’s dark outside… Too early to call it a day as I reach out for a book from the rickety bookcase beneath the window. Three shelves with lots on Shakespeare, quite a bit of poetry, essays, a few novels, old favorites, some going back to over forty years.Continue reading “Bedtime Readings”

Seems the Japanese are particularly good at that, aside from Marie Kondo. Keep only what you really need, what is essential. Two pairs of jeans are quite sufficient – one to wear while the other one is being washed. Coffee cups? Generally, you and your partner need only two. If friends come they will haveContinue reading “Minimalism”

If life is generous and the moment is right, a dear friend may suddenly surprise you by telling you about a poem by Mary Oliver on wild geese, introducing you to this poet of nature, a nature that you miss now that you are no longer privileged to be part of that world. Or youContinue reading “Three”

It hits you all of a sudden. I’m no longer young. That’s one way of putting it. And then your sons are no longer young either. Not like me, but taking their share of pills and medicines. What strikes me most, perhaps, is the lack of inspiration. Oh, it will come, my friends say. SoContinue reading “Starting Anew”

Life’s ebbs and flows occasionally necessitates a step back — a respite to reflect and to recharge. While Erika has recently hit the pause button for her blog, rest assured, it is only temporary and soon enough she will return to her digital canvas. To her loyal readers, Erika offers her heartfelt gratitude for everyone’sContinue reading “Some Updates”

One can also go from the so-called Villa to Orvieto by car. Once upon a timeshe lived in a stone house overlooking a valley. Almost every day she would cross overto the town on the other side.She might walkdown the cobblestone roadwhere in the past wagonshad rumbled, bearingwheat and wineand workers.Or she might drive hersmallContinue reading “Drive to Town”

New Year 2024 2023 has left us many memories of good and bad. It is now up to us to make new memories for the coming year. May the New Year open the door onto a new world, answer many of your questions and give you the strength to keep on going along the pathContinue reading “Happy New Year”

If you haven’t grown up in a religious family, you still celebrate Christmas. Although you may also celebrate Hannukah and Kwanzaa. To me Christmas is really a celebration of the family, of the joy of giving and receiving, anticipating what might delight members of the immediate and the acquired families. It is thinking of others. WhetherContinue reading “Christmas Memories”