I’ve never been comfortable with the designation, “Hispanic.”  I see myself as being of Latin origin, a descendent of those who spoke a romance language — in my case, Spanish rather than French or Italian.  I have no knowledge of any language known as “Hispanic.”  H

My visit with my former student from South Africa was memorable but all too brief.  We had a wonderful time exploring Portland and, as the saying goes, “by my student I was taught.” Kitty is a travel agent in Cape Town, used to finding her way in foreign places.  So, when I prop

During her recent visit from South Africa, my former student mentioned she had a retirement account but she hadn’t spoken to her broker in three years.  I almost fell out of my chair.  The woman is nearly 70.  Despite her age, having once been my student, I couldn’t remain sile

 If writers have one reason to rejoice in Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US Presidential election, it’s that he’s revived the book publishing business.  That’s Alex Sheppard’s opinion. (“It Takes a Pillage,” by Alex Sheppard, New Republic, Aug/

When they return from a vacation, I suspect my readers have an experience similar to mine.  I’m surprised the hurley burly of the everyday world has changed not a whit.  Old political feuds continue.  North Korea has fired another rocket. China remains complacent.  Russian hacke

IF ONE COULD TALK WITH RUDYARD KIPLING Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” offers advice on character building and how to weather the vagaries of one’s fellowman. Unfortunately, it says nothing about coping with electronic devices, which is natural enough as the man died in 1936.  

Maybe it’s because I live alone, but I spend a good deal of time arguing with my reading material, especially those essays or books that are nonfiction. My complaints aren’t content to be voiced in my head but are expressed out loud, as if the author were perched in the armchair a

Yesterday, I offered a few savings suggestions to pad your retirement account.  (Blog 8/8/2016)  Today, I’m going to recount a few ways to protect income after you’ve retired. Elizabeth O’Brien encourages us to plan for the unpredictable by setting aside money for emergencies

On a recent Saturday, I escaped from the retirement center with two delightful fellow inmates.  I wanted to learn how to ride a bus, something I hadn’t done in years.  Fortunately my new friends were game to show me the ropes.  One supplied me with a ticket. The other gave me ins

My material grandmother used to warn her daughter that by laughing so much her teeth might freeze — no easy feat in the tropical country like Costa Rica.  Happily the threat didn’t dissuade my mother who loves to laugh to this day.  As she’s passed her 100 birthday, it’s