Shopping Hell

One of the things that I did not consider when I moved myself from California to Estonia was shopping. Since I flew I had two and a half suitcases worth of possessions I could bring. I focused on cold weather clothes, a few books, including some some of my own. Read more

By Karin, ago

Tere Tere

“Tere” means hello in Estonian.  Greetings from Estonia. I am in Tartu where my father lived, and where my ancestors are buried. I am poorly studying the Estonian language in an intensive course at the University of Tartu This gives me a fantastic opportunity to feel the emotions and frustrations Read more

By Karin, ago

Herring for Breakfast

Yesterday I arrived in Tallinn, Estonia after a grueling day and day of travel. Or maybe it was day and a night. 26 hours from the time I left my sister’s house I was finally in Tallinn. Estonia is ten hours ahead of California in clock time, so my overnight Read more

By Karin, ago

Me Versus We

For the last two years as we have struggled through this pandemic,. We have lost the people we loved most. We have tried to stay healthy and deal with every changing information. During this period, I have observed two types of people. There are those who think in terms of Read more

By Karin, ago

The Year Everyone Died

I think of 2021 as the year everyone died, even though my beloved friend and honorary sister, Jennifer Simpson died in December of 2020. Jennifer was the Queen of Grief and my guidepost through the world of grief. Since then it has been an avalanche of death and suffering. Yes, Read more

By Karin, ago

Conservatives and the Constitution

The Atlantic magazine interviewed Ryan Williams from the Clairemont Institute whose goal is restoring the principles of the American Founding to their rightful, preeminent authority in our national life. The article, entitled “The Conservatives Dreading—And Preparing for—Civil War” is available online. I have been going over the article in my Read more

By Karin, ago

The Song Remains the Same

As the world watches the bungled evacuation of American Citizens, US Allies, and at risk Afghans from Afghanistan, the horrors of similar bungled issues from the past are dredged up and we are emotionally vulnerable.  The Fall of Saigon, the partitioning of Berlin, the fall of eastern Europe to the Read more

By Karin, ago

The Fall of Kabul

As I watch the fall of Kabul, I am reminded of the fall of Saigon and the people I have known over the years who got out on the last flights and how it scared them. I think of the people I have known who escaped after the fall of Read more

By Karin, ago

In Limbo

I have a very close friend, an honorary brother, who has been in ICU for 109 days as of today. For the last 2 1/2 months he has been on a ventilator. I am his health care power of attorney.  This ordeal is torture but as long as he wants Read more

By Karin, ago