It’s quiet on campus. Everyone has gone home. It’s just me and Mark, the dorm all to ourselves. He’s here still because he can’t travel on the Sabbath. I’m here to simply take a few deep breaths, to take advantage of some solitude before heading home. I went down to the cafeteria tonight for dinner,Continue reading “A Single Dispatch from Writer’s Camp 2015”
Category Archives: Self Reflection
A Talk at the 2015 Rex Putnam High School Graduation Ceremony
Class of 2015: Good morning! Many of you have seen a music video on youtube in which a young man wearing a yellow suit, a blue bow tie, and beige converse high tops, bounces up and down, gestures maniacally, and moves rhythmically in a way that sort of resembles “dancing;” his eye make-up is sweatingContinue reading “A Talk at the 2015 Rex Putnam High School Graduation Ceremony”
Notes Toward A Musical Autobiography: Volume II, Letter B
Herein you’ll find volume two of a written record of the experience of attempting to listen to at least one compact disc from every artist represented in my collection. I think I’m crazy and I don’t know how long I can maintain or persist in this folly. I managed in two weeks and aboutContinue reading “Notes Toward A Musical Autobiography: Volume II, Letter B”
Notes Toward A Musical Autobiography: Volume I, Letter A
I have often thought of my record collection, now mostly a compact disc collection, supplemented by the occasional download and maybe 100 vinyl LPs, as a kind of musical autobiography. Listening to records for me has always had the same kind of effect as looking through a photo album, or reading old journal entries. TheContinue reading “Notes Toward A Musical Autobiography: Volume I, Letter A”
Mindfulness in 2015: Day #17
After just now almost putting a pot of hot coffee into the refrigerator, I decide to spend a few minutes reflecting on how my Mindfulness Project for 2015 is coming along. To begin with, I just tried to put a hot pot of coffee into the refrigerator. That did not strike me as being especiallyContinue reading “Mindfulness in 2015: Day #17”
Mindfulness in 2015: A Silver Bullet Resolution
For Christmas this year, we bought our nine year old son the latest kid’s book from Thich Nhat Hanh, Is Nothing Something? Kids’ Questions and Zen Answers about Life, Death, Family, Friendship, and Everything in Between. While the boy has expressed not even a little bit of interest in diving into The Biggest Questions answeredContinue reading “Mindfulness in 2015: A Silver Bullet Resolution”
I Resolve to Resolve for 2015
To resolve or not to resolve: that is the question. In December of the year 2012, I made the following remarks in a blog entry entitled, “Of Resolutions.” It was one of an entire series of entries all taking a cue in their titles from the French essayist Michel de Montaigne, who titled nearly all ofContinue reading “I Resolve to Resolve for 2015”
I’m Turning 50!
Oh fuck. I’m turning 50. Beginning with the expletive that seems most fitting for the occasion, I begin this project of reflecting on just what this whole thing means to me, how it feels, how I’m coping, if I’m coping, what might be learned as I crest the top of the hill and begin to danceContinue reading “I’m Turning 50!”
School House Rock ‘n’ Sock
Almost two months ago now, in the throes and excitement and the optimism of a new school year, I found myself writing with my students and posting the results as blog entries here on the Michael Jarmer blog page. I was a happy camper then. Those were truly salad days in September. Fast forward toContinue reading “School House Rock ‘n’ Sock”
The Post Writer’s Camp Blah Blah Blahs: How to Deal
Of course I was happy to be home. Of course I missed my family and was immensely glad to see them. Of course I didn’t miss that ugly, tiny, springy, single dorm mattress and that sweltering dorm room. Of course it was good to sleep in my own bed on the second night home,Continue reading “The Post Writer’s Camp Blah Blah Blahs: How to Deal”
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