The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: perspective

  • First World Problems

    Have you ever tried to find a last-minute dog sitter for a holiday weekend? Especially when you have a dog with a history of chewing on people? It’s no picnic, believe me. I asked 8 different sitters, and had no luck whatsoever. Come on. I just want a romantic weekend with my new boyfriend! Waaaaaah!…

  • Even Weeds Belong Somewhere

    My whole life, I’ve felt as though I didn’t quite fit in. So much so, that at some point I gave up trying. In fact, these days I seem to have gone to the other end of the bell curve entirely. I kind of delight in being out in left field most of the time.…

  • The Choices We Can’t See

    “So, why didn’t you do it like this?” She asked. “Because it never occurred to me,” I replied. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had a similar conversation, both as the inquisitor and as the embarrassed person who failed to find the obvious solution. It makes you wonder how many choices are out…

  • Maybe If…

    So I decided to go camping in British Columbia during the Perseids meteor showers. I love astronomical events of all kinds, but the Persaids is one of my favorites. And it was supposed to be particularly spectacular this time around. I had been planning this trip for nearly a year. I had no idea that…

  • Arbitrary Stress

    I like to have at least 7 blog entries in queue, waiting to be posted, one per day, when the clock strikes twelve. Right now I’m one behind and it’s stressing me out. I can’t come up with anything to write about. But for heaven’s sake, what difference does it make if I have 6…

  • Try Listening

    I know a guy who talks so much that people actually scatter when they see him coming. He’s a nice guy. He means well. But he can suck, literally, hours out of your life as he holds forth on whatever he has chosen to blather on about on that particular day. And you’re expected to…

  • Continuity

    I read something recently that I found very comforting. The same sunrise/sunset has been circling the globe for millions of years. Mind officially blown. I love the idea that my sunset is someone else’s sunrise. It gives me a sense of connection with the wider world. It links me to all of time, past, present…

  • Flexibility

    I’ve met a lot of very rigid people in my lifetime. I always feel kind of sorry for them. It must be exhausting to get worked up over the minutiae of life. There is plenty of significant stuff to focus on. For example, I know someone who writes furious e-mails to superiors if someone doesn’t…

  • Perspective

    This country is going to hell in a handbasket. I’m not getting any younger. I’ll never be able to afford to retire or own a home again. And I’ve pretty much given up on romance. If you’re looking, it’s usually not hard to find things to be discouraged about. In fact, it’s pretty easy. It’s…

  • Tears for Turkey

    The thing about having been to 22 countries is that it has caused me to have a more global perspective. I seem to take international news much more personally than a lot of people I know. In a time when there is so much violence in the world, this can be a bit overwhelming. While…