Unfamiliar

The first session of the workshop in prison is designed for introductions. We make up a name for ourselves that contains our first name preceded by an adjective that is spelled with the first letter the same as our first name.  I am Gentle George. We go around and take turns repeating all the names … More Unfamiliar

Que le vaya bien

Originally posted on Winter in Quito:
Que le vaya bien is a common farewell phrase that loosely translated means, “Hope everything goes well.” On March 14th, my last day working at Fundación Minadores de Sueños, these words were frequently spoken as I exchanged goodbyes with the children and staff members. Traditionally, when a volunteer finishes…

Carnaval and Pallatanga

Originally posted on Winter in Quito:
March 4th and 5th was a national holiday in Ecuador—Carnaval. This holiday is apparently celebrated worldwide although only regionally in the United States, primarily in New Orleans, where it is called Mardi Gras. In Ecuador, it marks the beginning of Lent and also honors the indigenous Kichwa holiday of…

A Memorable Evening

I was heading south toward Spring City, Tennessee on I-81. What a night it had been. High winds and blinding rain on back in Virginia running alongside the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dark, windy, rainy and scary too. More than scary really. Hair-raising, daunting, fearsome, alarming sound good too. I was unblinking-tired. There was no way … More A Memorable Evening

I am back!

Originally posted on barralopolis:
This is the complete picture of my cover picture at ONL191. Me trying to get some air in Anza Borrego desert some time March 2018. Well, it has been a while. Almost 4 years! Guess it has been busy. I am back because of the Open Networked Learning course: ONL191. How…

80

I have a major day arriving soon. A major day. Not the major day, just a major day. My 80th birthday is February 19th. I am entering my ninth decade. I’m not sure how to feel or think about this. I am having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that I am going to … More 80

George Stratton

The digital clock tells all who are present that it is 11:11. From what I know through comments hither and yon is, that 11:11 sticks in the minds of many. It is symbolic, I suspect. It is for me. Of course, on a digital clock the symmetry of the display catches one’s eye and captures a … More George Stratton