Jay Wrote

I expect that “Life Ain’t Always Empty”, my 2020 report’s utter failure to update people on COVID, politics and such will be forgiven. As will, I hope, this year’s failure to entirely avoid those topics. Plus forgiveness for the travelogue feel of this report. Karen and I drive up to the Duluth area every month or two to see Molly, Mara, Courtney and Matthew and the dogs. They are in the scrub forest about 20 minutes out of the city. We are charmed and bowled over by the girls every time we see them. Matthew is now doing security system installation work and Courtney is helping families with challenged kids. She has a much harder job.  We stopped for gas and coffee near the Black Bear Casino south of Duluth on the way home this summer. A big white Dodge Ram pickup truck parked next to the entrance of the store. Running. No-one inside. MN license plate was white and first two letters on it were “WW”. These are issued to drivers with DWI convictions. A bumpe...

Lost and Found Connections, Paris and St. Paul, 2001 Day-to-day events and lives often seem isolated.  In February and March of 2001, Thomas Paine, my wife’s new job with Northwest Airlines, our families’ genes and histories, e-coli bacteria, 17 th century prostitutes, cuisine of the Seychelles Islands, a left carotid artery, socialized medicine, Louis XIV, a B-17 bomber’s lay-over in Labrador, madness, Chinese hamster ovaries, gunpowder, a gangster, wool berets and Captain Nemo's Nautilus, all came together during a trip like no other. Truth is stranger than fiction, more frightening than nightmares and so much more rewarding than a lottery.   Part 1  Two Hours in Paris We could each turn around in the space beside our bed, but not if holding suitcases.  Northwest Airlines' first class reclining seats had more wiggle room than Hotel Claude Bernard's second floor room on Rue des Ecoles on Paris’ Left Bank.   I shot some black and white photos of the st...