“Just lift with your fingers!” The hundred pound planter filled with earth and flowering hibiscus didn’t budge; at least not on my side, though there was definitely air under his. “Can’t,” I grunted. “Can’t get a grip. There’s nothing to hold onto at the top.” “You’re plenty strong enough. Get some of those quads and… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Sidney Stark
Old Friends—Good Friends
“It’s not the mature Mozart—oh, my no. Such a difference.” “Really…” I said, my rising acidity suggesting anything but a question. I assumed the hint to end the conversation before it began could not be missed. I was wrong. “Good heavens!” I could tell from my dinner partner’s pinched nostrils and pained expression I’d stepped on… Continue Reading
What to Do?
According to the US Census Bureau, over 800,000 people are widowed in the United States each year; every year. Not that I trust the credibility of statistics (they’ll say anything with a little coaxing), but if this number is even close to accurate, it’s hard to believe we could be such an avoidable minority. Ah… Continue Reading
Subterranean Life
So much darker than daylight, oddly shadowed by occasional exposed light bulbs under dripping eaves, the building bridge protects more from weather than construction debris. Becoming part of the subterranean life of Manhattan in order to arrive on time, I hovered around the entrance to Mt. Sinai hospital under the ever-present scaffolding we’ve come to… Continue Reading
Start Here!
The red arrow leaves nothing to doubt. It points at the start of the labyrinth to the true beginning of the maze. I don’t much like the look of it. This is not the gentle, fun beginning of a child’s puzzle from my girlhood memories. I can already see there’s trouble ahead and I haven’t… Continue Reading
Patience
An overly ambitious push on the toothpaste tube forced a hollow exhale, but no paste. I stared at it, stupid with the realization I’d almost run out. These days it’s harder to tell. The aluminum tubes of not-so-long-ago stayed where you put them, curled up neatly from the bottom to indicate what was gone and… Continue Reading