Sheppard's Rest: Reflections about life, both the inscrutable and the beautiful

The Butler Should Do It 26.12.2021 5:54 ↓

Thinking about life as a butler raises some broader questions about serving others.  A butler?

December 7, 1941 25.12.2021 10:13 ↓

It's certainly not too late to remember a "day that will live in infamy."  Recollection on the attack on Pearl Harbor is always timely.

All Is Calm 06.12.2021 5:47 ↓

For a moment, our frenetic lives are placed on hold in the presence of that which is the most beautiful of human endeavors.

One More Time 01.12.2021 6:35 ↓

I was not in attendance at James Taylor"s concert in St. Paul, Minnesota over the weekend.  But I am amazed at him and his peers nonetheless.

2021 Thanksgiving 27.11.2021 3:52 ↓

What's on your list of things to be thankful for?  Here's my 2021 edition.

Pill Poem 27.11.2021 3:03 ↓

Do you ever get the feeling that your life is held together by pills?  The thought occurred to me the other day in front of tablets and capsules galore.

Upon Leaving 26.11.2021 4:27 ↓

There is more to leaving a beloved space than simply packing bags.  We carry home some other things, as well.

Values 26.11.2021 3:54 ↓

Taking on my son's writing assignment was homework that turned out to be good for me.

Pretending 26.11.2021 3:49 ↓

Halloween may be past, but the need for pretending lingers on.

My Kid's Backyard 28.10.2021 5:12 ↓

What do you call the act of hitting your head against a wall and then complaining of a headache?  Futility.

The Week That Was 28.10.2021 6:42 ↓

Ever have one of those weeks?

Tired 28.10.2021 8:23 ↓

The saga of a simple trip home that was not simple.

Same But Different 19.10.2021 5:31 ↓

What can an old photograph of yourself say about who you were, and who you are?

Self-Made 11.10.2021 7:39 ↓

Here are four news stories from the past week that share something major in common.

Reunion 07.10.2021 7:21 ↓

A necessary avoidance at a 50-year class reunion.

Accommodations 02.10.2021 6:09 ↓

An awakening at Mayo Clinic.

R.S.V.P. 27.09.2021 5:09 ↓

Some events simply beg to be confirmed for attendance, even if the senders don't ask.

Watching Katie 22.09.2021 5:44 ↓

It was not necessarily an epiphany, but I experienced real joy in watching my wife walk down the street.

Tree Story 18.09.2021 6:28 ↓

I have met few educators as compelling and insightful as this tree.

Where Were You Then? Where Are You Now? 13.09.2021 6:57 ↓

Individual reflections about 9/11 may be the best legacy for us personally in the aftermath of that enormous catastrophe.

Is It the Same for You? 09.09.2021 5:53 ↓

Are we all being slowly driven crazy together with things that don't work, or is it just me?

For the Record 06.09.2021 7:59 ↓

There's more than enough sobering news to keep me preoccupied theses days.

On Squirrels and Hummingbirds 21.08.2021 5:13 ↓

We're not really much like red squirrels or hummingbirds.  Or are we?

The Disclaimer 14.08.2021 4:03 ↓

Television commercials can be really good, really bad, and sometimes really misleading.

Only the Good Stuff 11.08.2021 7:07 ↓

Are these shows really the epitome of the good stuff on TV?