Wondering — For better or worse, I have always been a nerd. My parents put me in school early because I didn’t stop asking questions. I wanted to know everything. …

Listening to the rain — On this cold and rainy day, I wondered if I had anything to say. Outside it feels like fall, not like summer at all. I’m home and can’t do a lot since I just got the second booster shot. Perhaps I will go for a leisurely walk and find a…

Predicting the fall of Roe v. Wade? — In a recent video on YouTube, Chappelle points out the hypocrisy of some “pro-lifers,” saying that he would be for or against abortion depending whom he “would get pregnant.” Tim Murphy comes to mind. Then Chappelle goes on to say that a woman should have the exclusive choice to have…

What is patriotism? — As I listen to the fireworks tonight and see their bright colors, many of my friends post pictures demonstrating their patriotic feelings. Pictures of red, white, and blue stars painted on green lawns find wide approval. But one of my gay friends posted this on Facebook: This year, my wife…

Almost feels like being back in East Germany — I left East Germany with my parents before the wall closed. I was six weeks old. I spent many summer vacations with family in East Germany, however. I remember how much I liked riding along in the passenger seat on the side of my uncle’s moped. We also had fun…

and it’s not just the gun laws — Today I just had enough and felt like crying. I don’t know what is going on anymore in this country. It seems that women are undermined at every turn. The Supreme Court wants to turn the abortion issue back to the states but would do nothing to force them to…

Night trains — I am not traveling this summer and miss it. Most of my past travels have involved not just time on planes but also train travel. However, the last time I traveled by train was two years ago. Luckily, many others are still traveling and are posting videos on YouTube. I…

Around the world and close to home — A young woman died in Cairo for rebuffing a man. Russian soldiers rape women in the Ukraine, a war crime. Saudi women can drive now, but they can’t leave the country without permission — or even their houses. Women fare even worse under the Taliban in Afghanistan. Forget about attending…

Sometimes to find the way back to us — When we leave a place, we leave something of us behind. It is as if we stay — even though we have moved on. There are things about us we can only find again by going back to a place where we spent a part of our path in life…