seanessay.com In my youth, I was inspired by the father in the memoir Fifth Chinese Daughter, as he made copies of every letter he sent, and kept every letter he received. Although I was as lazy as the next guy, somehow I managed to always find carbon paper or make photocopies. Back then, for normal […]
Why Journals are Jolly
seanessay.com In my shared house, one evening, there were two identical blond heads, plus my own, bent over at our kitchen table, journalling. A male housemate came in, made a remark, and I quipped, “It’s journal night in Canada.” One of the blonds, one night, got into a sexual activity with me and later told […]
Being An Ornery Old Man
seanessay.com I’m only a senior citizen who doesn’t expect Canadians at the next breakfast table to remember… Sean Crawford, in last week’s post, A Spy Being Too Tired I started being an ornery old man back in childhood. I would take a Pacific Stage Lines bus along the mighty Fraser to the port city of […]
A Spy Being Too Tired
essaysbysean “Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.” The ancient Greek poet Aeschylus, quoted from memory by Senator Robert Kennedy. (footnote) … … Somedays I can’t be bothered to be a […]
Enlightenment in Old Age
seanessay.com They say Buddhists get their enlightenment very abruptly. I’d like that too, but for me things take a while. I’m now over Greenland thinking lofty thoughts. This morning in London I was in the Bloomsbury district, of bookstores and writers, enjoying the More Delish cafe, chatting with the owner. In my American midwest accent—where […]
At Home Outside the Home
seanessay.com A newsletter headline: (after folks painted a mural on a cul-de-sac) Community is about doing something together that makes belonging matter. Head Office Highlights, September 2023 Last week, regarding voting, I mentioned a man from a patriarchal planet coercing his wife’s vote. This week I met an acquaintance who said his little woman doesn’t […]