Author Archives: The OW Factor

Numbness and inertia

Two words that come close to describing my state of being lately are numbness and inertia. It is like I am infected with some sort of drug that makes it hard for me to feel, and hard for me to do. Intellectually I see these things and am aware that there is a problem, butContinue reading “Numbness and inertia”

Songs in the brain

The power of music and song is amazing. There are songs and types of music I heard a lot during my growing up years that instantly recall specific times and places. These are songs in the brain, just like snapshots. Examples: Pretty much anything by John Denver Roy Clark singing “The Green, Green Grass ofContinue reading “Songs in the brain”

America doesn’t get a vote in the matter

As the United States convulses at the murder of yet another black person, my thoughts return to a recent opinion piece in the New York Times (“Ahmaud Arbery and the America That Doesn’t Exist”), written in response to the murder of Ahmaud Arbery earlier this year. Written by theology professor and minister, Dr. Esau McCaulley,Continue reading “America doesn’t get a vote in the matter”

Yeah, I’m worn

I have often thought about the lyrics of the following song, performed by Tenth Avenue North, because they express how I so frequently feel. That is true today as well. Yeah, I’m worn, and my heart is heavy — heavy for so many people. Heavy for ongoing injustices especially against people of color; heavy forContinue reading “Yeah, I’m worn”

Anecdotes about The Princess Bride

Many people will agree with me that the movie, The Princess Bride, is a classic. Although not my all time favorite (that honor goes to Chariots of Fire), it is probably within the top five of my favorite films. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve watched it. Last night I discovered theContinue reading “Anecdotes about The Princess Bride”

Procrasticlean

Procrasticlean. verb: to tackle all of those longstanding cleaning chores, doing as much of them as possible in order to have an excuse to not do the most important thing one is supposed to be doing. I wonder if anyone else can relate… Never underestimate the power of getting stuff done while avoiding getting otherContinue reading “Procrasticlean”

More snapshots in the brain, part 2

For an 18 month period when I was 3-4 years old, my family went through some difficult times. These were set within a larger, traumatic backdrop that I won’t take time to explain here. Some of my snapshots are mere glimpses of the mundane, while others are more dramatic and memorable. At this point, myContinue reading “More snapshots in the brain, part 2”

More snapshots in the brain, part 1

When I was three, my family moved from a small farm town in the middle of nowhere to a large city several hundred miles away where my mother was born and raised. For a time, we lived in my maternal grandparents’ basement until my parents bought a house a few blocks down the street. HereContinue reading “More snapshots in the brain, part 1”

A critical view of returning to campus

A decision has been made by my employer to reopen for in-person, on campus instruction in the Fall. There are important details about the plan that need to be fully understood when assessing it critically. However, communication about this decision has focused on how great it will be to be together again (in comparison toContinue reading “A critical view of returning to campus”