Ethiopian Beer

We were offered coffee and/or beer. But Our guide warmed us that the water fro the beer came directly from the creek. The water for the beer came from bottled water. I picked the beer. The brown pitcher was dipped in to a 50 gallon jug and scooped out. It tasted like a kombucha and a small glass was enough to satisfy my yearning for homemade Ethiopian beer.

After The Big Fall

 

After The Big Fall

Atlanta Airport

Atlanta, GA

July 10, 2026

And as the paramedic slammed the back ambulance door shut, I immediately accepted the reality that the rest of my day was not going to continue as planned.

No Alcohol

 Hanging with my Muslim friends at a Pakistani restaurant. A beer would have been perfect with our meal but you cant have everything you want, sometimes.

Tiny Mushroom

 I was listening to Stormy Daniels describe Trump's junk and she talked about a tiny mushroom. I tried to image what it would look like. Then I wandered outside and there in my garden was a tiny mushroom. And now I have an image at to what it may look like.

A Letter to the CEO of Delta Airlines

 Subject: Recognition for Exceptional Delta Employee Mamie Johnson (Employee #743017)

On July 10, I was traveling alone through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, waiting to catch a Delta flight to Bogotá, Colombia. Before my flight, I fell and suffered a broken shoulder. I was taken by ambulance to a local trauma center. After I was stabilized, I was discharged with no real plan for what to do next. At that point, I had only one goal: to get home to Philadelphia.

I took an Uber back to the airport, frightened, exhausted, in severe pain, and completely overwhelmed. I had no idea what had happened to the luggage I had checked that morning, and I didn't have a ticket to get anywhere. I simply didn't know what to do.

As I approached the Delta counter, I noticed Mamie Johnson (Employee #743017) assisting passengers with their luggage tags. I interrupted her and asked if she could tell me where I might find someone who could help me.

She took one look at me and immediately said, "Follow me." She called for a wheelchair, secured my backpack to it, and, before I knew it, had arranged a ticket for me on a 7:00 p.m. flight home. She personally wheeled me to the lost baggage office, where we learned my luggage couldn't be located at that time. She made sure I was reassured that it would be sent to Philadelphia the following day.

Mamie then took me to the wheelchair services office and personally found someone to escort me all the way to my departure gate. Before leaving, she came over to wish me well. I tried to offer her a tip as a small token of my appreciation.

She looked me in the eye and said something I will never forget: "I didn't do all this because I wanted a tip. You needed help. That's what we're supposed to do. We help one another."

Those words brought tears to my eyes.

I told her she could never fully understand how grateful I was. At that moment, I was physically injured, emotionally shaken, and utterly exhausted. I truly needed someone to help me, and Mamie stepped forward without hesitation.

She went far beyond what anyone would expect, not just from an airline employee, but even from many friends. Yet I was a complete stranger, and she treated me with extraordinary kindness, compassion, and dignity.

In a world where people often rush past one another, Mamie reminded me of the very best of humanity. She represents everything Delta should be proud of: professionalism, empathy, and genuine care for others.

I will never forget her kindness, and I will be forever grateful for the care she gave me on one of the most difficult days of my life.

Please extend my deepest thanks to Mamie Johnson and recognize her for the remarkable difference she made. Employees like her don't just represent Delta, they elevate it.

Texting With My Siblings

While on my way to Columbia, I fell at the Atlanta airport and did some damage to my shoulder. I didn't tell my family about my fall until I was back in my home.

SATURDAY'S DISCUSSION

 Me:   I want to start my text by telling you that I’m fine. But I had a bad fall at the Atlanta airport and had to be taken to the local hospital. I have a broken shoulder bone. I’m in a sling for six weeks and then PT. At this moment, there is no need for surgery but I do have to go to an orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion. My pain today is less than yesterday. And it is a challenge to learn to be left handed for the next few weeks. Needless to say, my trip to Columbia is cancelled. But through it all, I'm in good spirits. Yesterday I had to depend on the kindness of strangers and everyone stepped up.

Kathy:  Oh, no! Are you still in Atlanta?

Sharon:  Tried ti call you. Maybe Pam Revie can help? 

Me:  Once I was released from the hospital around 4pm, I just wanted to go home. So I went back to the airport and with lots of help got a flight last night and I’m home.

Kathy :  I’m glad you are back home! You are a trooper!  Do you want to come here to be waited on and recuperate? 

Patricia :  What bone did you injure? 

Me:  Look, I dressed myself, just likes big girl. 

Sharon:  Loved an image   Looking good. And you sounded very good on the phone today. Let us know what we can do to help you. 💗🙏

Jim:  Let me know how I can help. 

Brian:  I'm so sorry to hear that this happened to you

SUNDAY's DISCUSSION

Sharon:   Liked “But through it all, I'm in good spirits. Yesterday I had to depend on the kindness of Stranges and everyone stepped up.”   The patient looks pretty good. We stopped by Bridgets apartment today. 💗

MONDAY DISCUSSIONS

Me:  Feeling great!!!   Just got back from the orthopedic surgeon. At this moment, no surgery. But I’m not out of the woods yet. I go back next week and I get more x rays and a cat scan and reevaluated for the next few weeks 

Jim :  I'm glad you got checked out

Kathy :  That sounds promising. What do you do in  the interim?

Me:  I can not raise up my arm . So no pickle ball. 

Kathy :  No pickle ball!! Such a cruel fate!

Me:  Today, Tricia prepared the questions. Sharon asked the questions and I sat and listened.

Brian:   Beer flights can be a left- handed game

Me:   Regretfully, no beers until further notice. Life is hard. 

Brian :   That's inhumane. Who's your doctor, Kevorkian?

Bridget Kelly:  Reacted 😂 to “That's inhumane. Who's your doctor, Kevorkian?”

Brides- Ethiopia

 In Ethiopia, the bride wears red if she is still a virgin. If she has had sex with her partner, she wears white. And she is not shamed but rather, respected for telling the truth.

AI is taking too much of my time and energy

 

At a Bruce Springsteen concert and in awe of the crowd and the energy in the arena

 

In Memory of the "Colored Soldiers of the Civil War"- West Chester, PA

 

My Great Nephew Graduated From High School

 My greta nephew just graduated from high school and as I entered his house to celebrate the moment, this robe greeted me at the door. I guess he thought this gesture would cover it if we never got to meet up amongst everyone at his event.

A Gathering of Holy Men- Ethiopia- 2026

 

Enjoying A Delicious Beer- 2026

 

Ethiopia- 2026

 

Losing My Religion

 The more I travel, the more skeptical I become of organized religion. Everywhere I go, people seem convinced that they have found the one true faith and that competing beliefs are misguided or false. Yet from my perspective, every religion often appears no more or less credible than the others.

Of all the religions I have encountered, Hinduism strikes me as the most plausible. I am drawn to its belief that all living beings in the animal kingdom (and not just humans beings) are part of the spiritual journey and that growth continues across many lifetimes. The idea of reincarnation feels more just and compassionate to me than the concept of eternal damnation. If you make mistakes in this life, you are given another opportunity to learn, improve, and move closer to enlightenment rather than being condemned to hell for eternity.

My Attempt to Capture Manet's Essence

 

The Rumbergers

He lived for 50 years. She lived for 100 years. How different were their lives.

Did she have twice the joy that he had. She had to have so much more sorrow after living all those years.

Did he live to be a father and grandfather?

Did she live to be a great grandmother and possibly a great, great grandmother?

Did she ever remarry?

Did any of the grandchildren remember him?

Did she have to go to work after he died. Most wives stayed home at this time and raised the children?

How long did she struggle with his death?

What support systems did she have to help her through these tough times?

Kids of Ethiopia- 2026

 

Graduation

 I went to my great nephew's graduation party and this robe ensemble meet all of us at the entrance. I guess it was put up there in case me never got to see Rocco.

Willow Tree

 Someone on the internet is hosting a one line poetry contest. We can only use 12 words and it has to be about trees. So here it goes:

Standing under the willow tree with my grandfather, my only memory of him.