Contemplating the future is probably not the most sensible use of my time, but it seems to have been foremost in my mind recently. It makes no sense, really. It will be what it will be. If in my past, I had known of and contemplated the details needed to reach this particular present, I might notContinue reading “Worrying about the future; past- Now”
Author Archives: rbwalton
Further adventures as a forester-Then
This hyperventilating hike in the forest was only the first of many threatening situations during this summer. Aside from my “brush” with heat and hyperventilation, it just seemed the summer was out to get me. Eventually, I became acclimated to the heat and altitude, but the summer still caught up with me when I foundContinue reading “Further adventures as a forester-Then”
High school moments and beyond, then and now
Things were always changing in my younger years. The Beatles had just stopped being the Beatles, or so it seemed at the time. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. were both killed at a time they had so much more to offer, at least potentially. The Vietnam War escalated. College tension increased. Riots andContinue reading “High school moments and beyond, then and now”
End of college and start of my short Career as a Forester- Then
It was the end of my time at the Cal Berkeley School of Forestry. Classes were ending. Graduation was coming up, and with it, my trip to the south to work as a pathologist on a long-running Forest Service/Cal Forestry joint research project. I was actually going to miss going to school. I was justContinue reading “End of college and start of my short Career as a Forester- Then”
Mistaken identity at gunpoint- then but told now
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 After I realized my forestry career was over, I lived in Oakland, CA, for a short time, across the street from Highland Hospital. I remembered hearing back then that, generally, this wasn’t a very safe neighborhood. And that was without the proximity to Highland Hospital generally. Specifically, my apartment was justContinue reading “Mistaken identity at gunpoint- then but told now”
Friends, Now
When I count the number of people in my life who have been truly good friends, I get a very small number. There were many casual friends from my old employer. I used to see them every workday. Some of them I had known for more than 20 years. After that long, I would haveContinue reading “Friends, Now”
Short message from “Now”
I can hear the collective groans thinking that this will be yet another post about my childhood. I will give it a rest for a while. Truly, it is not easy to rehash events from my youth. At least you can skip the entries that are of no interest. I have to relive not onlyContinue reading “Short message from “Now””
Memories of Kindergarten Life
(I promise I will not tell about every year…) At some point, I had to go to school. I seem to remember watching my brother and sister get ready for school in the past, so it was just accepted that this was the next stage of my life. I walked with them. They walked meContinue reading “Memories of Kindergarten Life”
Early memories and clever hints of future events
My mom did not drive, so she had to walk to the grocery store and carry the groceries back. Since I was the youngest and not in school yet, she brought me along. I rode in a wagon alone on the way over. On the way back, I had a bag or two of groceriesContinue reading “Early memories and clever hints of future events”
A job not wanted, revisited- Part two
Sunday, May 24, 2020 I woke up that morning and turned to face her as usual. She was wide awake. “I didn’t want to wake you up, but I haven’t slept all night. I need you to take me to the hospital. Now . . .” If you knew my wife, you would know thatContinue reading “A job not wanted, revisited- Part two”
Memory is the Key 