Questions That Plague Me

Questions That Plague Me

• 1-    Is there really a place like heaven?
• 2-    If so, will I see all my dead family members?
• 3-    Why did I win the lottery in life?
• 4-    When and what kind of cancer will I get? Everyone in my family gets cancer so my turn is soon.
• 5-    Will I run out of money? Did I save enough?  Should I spend less now?
• 6-    Should I strive for happiness or contentment?
• 7-    Is there more I can do?
• 8-    What is my purpose now that I am retired?
• 9-    Where should I travel next?
• 10- Did I take my pills today?
• 11- How can anyone eat liver and onions?
• 12- Why don’t people see the vulgarity of our military defense budget?
• 13- How can I turn my IPhone in to a hot spot?
• 14- How can I get my grass to stop growing?  I have tried everything: weed killer, mowing, pulling it up, covering it up with stones and pebbles and it still grows back with a vengeance.
• 15- Do I have to wear a bra today? I’m retired.
• 16- Am I making enough effort to meet new people?
• 17- Am I current? Am I stuck in the comfort of my past experiences?
• 18- How did I spend so many years drinking lagers when IPA beers were out there and within my grasp? What took me so long to discover quality beers?
• 19- Why can’t I be more like my grandmother who found beauty in everyone?
• 20- Am I becoming too rigid in my thinking?

The Coffin Makers

The Coffin Makers

Tanzania

February 2016

As I leave the hospital, I decide to roam the streets in search of lunch. As I round the corner, I stop in my tracks.  It appears as if I stumbled upon the coffin makers' street.  In front of me were 10 shops that make only coffins.  As loved one die in the hospital, family members stop by and pick out a coffin which is strapped on the back of the bike and taken home for the funeral.

A Crisp, Clear Winter Afternoon

A Crisp, Clear, Beautiful Winter Afternoon

Anchorage, Alaska

March 2017

Everywhere I looked, it was beautiful.  The air was clean. The colors were vibrant. The landscape was magnificent. But it was cold and there was a permanent layer of ice which was four inches thick. It would be months before it all melted.  And as I looked around at this beautiful scenery, I thought to myself, "Thank God, I don't live here. All of this winter would kill me."

DuClaw's Brewery

DuClaw's Brewery

Bel Air, MD

I like this brewery because they have a lot of variety and something new is always on tap.  In the past, a full flight was 14 beers.  But by the time the server stopped pouring, I had 18 beers in front of me and that was a real challenge.

To read more stories, check out:   bkmemoirs.blogspot.com

 or  bkmemoirs.wordpress.com

Ease Dropping and Wishing I Hadn't

Ease Dropping and Wishing I Hadn't
Chesapeake Coffee Shop
North East, MD
April 2017

Yes, I just heard this statement.  I am sitting in a coffee shop and listening in on the conversation of three young women.  They talk of love and broken hearts and drinking.  And then the conversation went here:


"My friend, well, she really isn't my friend because she is walking garage.  But my friend sells her underwear on craigslist and depending how long you wear it, the more it costs. I gotta start doing that.  I would love to sell my underwear."

Rest In Peace

REST IN PEACE

Students from Loyalsock HS, Jenkintown HS, Strousburg HS and Springfield HS

From 1981-2010

It’s been great to reconnect with my students on social media.  To date, I’m connected one way or another to almost 3,000 of my 10,000 students.  For years, they left us after high school and we never heard from them again and I often wondered what happened to them.  Did the superstars stay on top?  Did the marginal students find more success in their adult world?  Were they happy and productive? Did they have children and now view the world differently?

I have to say that I’ve been really pleased with so many of their success stories.  

But the downside of staying connected to these people is learning of their deaths. I am losing too many, too soon, too senselessly.  Drug overdoses seem to be the biggest culprit for many of these young deaths. Regardless of how they go, each death is a loss to me.

• Aaron Gorman
• Aaron Tomsho
• Adam Joachin
• Alex Barnes
• Alex Ghassan
• Alyssa Coulston
• Angela Bymlas
• Ben Weiss
• Beverly Broome
• Billy Tashjian
• Blair Heron
• Bob Gordon
• Bobbie Clements
• Brant Marino
• Brian Cassidy
• Brian Cassimissma
• Brian Fiegle
• Brian Loo
• Brian Sommers
• Bridget Delaney
• Carlos Fitzpatrick
• Cathy Cuff
• Casey Feldman
• Chris Senkow
• Chris Simms
• Colleen Kilkner
• Collin Kunklin
• Courtney Kraiza
• Craig Kramer
• Dave Adams
• David DeWain
• David Mojica 
• David Touchton
• Dennis – class of 1995
• Donna Schweinberg
• Doug Paul
• Doug Ruddy
• Dustin Mumbauer
• Emily Fleming- 2008
• Eric McGurk- 
• Frank Schaffer
• Gabby Oberti
• Garrett- car accident
• Graham Gower
• Greg Bloomfield
• Gustave “Gus” J. Nylander
• Herb Strunk
• Jack Shaeffer
• Jackie Kellie
• Jay Keefer
• Jeff Younken
• Jeni Harris
• Jennifer Furlong
• Jesse Schlomer
• Jesse Wells
• Jimmy Stewart
• Joe Hull
• Joel Anderson
• John Gormley
• Justin Smith
• Kate Leary
• Kevin Picard
• Kyle Sabel
• Lauren Hill
• Mark Wertmann
• Marrisa Twaska
• Matt Conkleton
• Matt McGill
• Matt P- class of 2001
• Matt Tracey
• Matt Turner
• Melissa Pearl
• Mike Davies
• Mike Stewart
• Mitch Counterman
• Nick Petrolli
• Ottmar Hagerty
• Pat Tracey
• Raeford MacIlwaine
• Rebecca Davidsons
• Rob Supper
• Sarah Wolf
• Sean Burrill
• Sean Rice
• Shane Hansen
• Shannon Murphy
• Shawn Bennett
• Stacy Thomas
• Steve Wolf
• Susan Polanco
• Tim Batchler
• Tina Michaels
• Veronica Kish
• Vincent J. Hill

November 2016

November 2016

November 1- campaigning for HRC

November 2- campaigning for HRC

November 3- campaigning for HRC

November 5- Katy Perry Concert for HRC in Philly

November 6- spent the night at the Anderkos because I lost my keys at the Katy Perry concert.

November 8- spent the day at the election polls

November 9- I am numb as is the rest of the world.

November 11- Women’s Investment Club

November 12- William’s bday dinner at a brewery

November 13- road trip to State College, PA to see Bobbi Bowen @ Zeno’s bar.

November 14- the ride home was gorgeous with the fall foliage

November 15- dinner with high school friends

November 16- my hot tub died, SHIT!!!

November 17- booked a trip to Puerto Rico.  I leave after Thanksgiving.

November 18- road trip to VA to see the Kellys.  Jameson is off to the Army and it was hard to be there without him.

November 19- Movie: the Harry Potter sequel.  It was fun.

November 20- the strong winds made the drive home a challenge.

November 24- Thanksgiving dinner with the Anderkos

November 25- Puerto Rico- it’s nice to be warm again.

November 26- Puerto Rico- roamed the streets.

November 27- Puerto Rico- margaritas in the afternoon

November 28- Puerto Rico- wandering around Old San Juan

November 29- Puerto Rico- a full day on the beach, reading and drinking beer

November 30- back in Philly and with the Anderkos