Welcome to the X.

Walking the streets of Amsterdam, Hamburg, Bilbao, or Lisbon, there is a plethora of street art. It can be found everywhere. The expression of art in pencil, marker, paint, or tile brings unexpected beauty. The question is, while viewing grand plazas, monolithic cathedrals, castles, and…

Our first destination was Amsterdam, where we enjoyed an excursion through the canals. It was beautiful and interesting. Seeing the many houseboats along some of the canals was eye-opening, and the hooks affixed to the tops of tall, narrow homes—used to haul up furniture and…

Certainly, patience is a great tool to carry in every aspect of life. As I shared in Part 1, it helped me get through the Frankfurt Airport. Knowing our trip would begin in Germany, I decided six or seven months ago to learn a little…

I just returned from 19 days in Europe with a cold, depleted immune system, a bag of souvenirs for the grandchildren—and a few thoughts about the experience. Our flight from Newark to Frankfurt was fine and without problems. We had to clear passport control in…

After a lifetime of problem-solving, I’m learning to give my brain a rest. Instead of measuring, analyzing, examining, probing, and scrutinizing, I’m trying to shift my awareness to my body. The other day, while walking, I caught myself mid-inquiry and decided to shut down the…

I was listening to music the other day, as I often do. While I admittedly am not the biggest Springsteen fan, there are many of his songs that I really love. (Please don’t tell anyone that I just said that. I wouldn’t want to be…

I have been enjoying the brain candy supplied by the Stoics. Here are a few of the one’s I’ve found particularly meaningful: “Think of the life you have lived until now as over and, as a dead man, see what’s left as a bonus and…

Recently, I learned that I have a serious caffeine addiction. It’s not that I drink a huge amount of coffee, and actually, I can’t touch it after 2 p.m. without it impacting my sleep. Due to the requirements of a medical test, I was unable…