I didn’t realize that I always wanted to be a teacher. I have always been somewhat of a rebel, so in my 20s, when I quit college in my third year, I realized I had no marketable skills. So, thanks to the government’s generosity, I went to a technical school and got a degree in…
When Matt and I knew it was over… By: Robin J. Engel He had taken a job near San Francisco; I took an apartment in AZ with the kids so I could finish my degree; we’d rented out our big house -the one we built, the last one we would ever buy, we said. When…
Every time I get on stage, I feel a bit more comfortable. Okay, truth be told, for some reason, I got very nervous a few minutes before I had to go on. More nervous than I was the last few times. Maybe it was because I was doing raunchy material. That’s what I call Blue…
November 25, 2023 I’m getting antsy. I had to spend a lot of my time going for back therapy – across town – 3 days/ week. Now, I’m better – not completely, but almost, and I suddenly have all this free time. I mean…really free! It’s a blessing. And I’m constantly reciting my gratitudes. “I’m…
May 2023, by: Robin J. Engel When I was 17 (no, this is not a Frank Sinatra song), I used to get high sometimes. Now, don’t get nervous. Yes, it was illegal back then, which was almost 50 years ago, so if you do the math, you can guess my age. Also, I’m sure there…
April 25, 2023 Why am I sharing my thoughts about retirement? Because everyone wants to commiserate with others who are going through similar emotions and events. Nobody wants to feel alone. This is why we go to support groups for everything from grief to divorce, this is why we go to church and synagogue, this…
Humans have stories. They are what we pass along from one generation to the next. They are how we understand the world. Stories enable us to empathize with characters, and make connections to the world, to ourselves, to each other. Even religions are rife with stories, whether they be real or mythical, that is up…
The past few days, I did something I’ve never done before (glad to know there are still some new things out there for me; if I ever get bored, I’ll know it’s time to leave the material world). I read a book – I mean read, looked at the words on the page – that…
TV FAMILY Humans are supposedly social creatures. We don’t do well without other humans. There are some who hole themselves up in monasteries and convents, and who spend much of their time not talking, yet they are still in the presence of others. Nowadays, in modern society, many people live alone. So many people feel…
It is 2:15 on a SAturday afternoon. The birds are serenading me. Literally. I’m sure they are songs and not just chirps. There are at least 4 distinct types of bird songs that I can detect. A friend of mine has gotten me into birding. I now have 2 apps on my phone. Today is…