Author Archives: cyrein

On June 20, 2020, an African man was arrested in Danvers for driving under the influence. His trial was held on June 21, 2023. He rejected a jury trial and was found guilty by the judge. His story is of interest, particularly during this time of increased racial injustice awareness. Shortly after his arrest, IContinue reading “A Trial After Three Years”

I’m seventy-six, with a multitude of ailments, but can mostly do what I want to do, provided there is not a lot of physical exertion. For example, this morning I participated in a water aerobics class at my local Y, doing most of the demonstrated exercises, occasionally slowing the pace for myself to a halfContinue reading “Anticipating Death, Loving Life”

My three weeks in Bali were extraordinary. Now, I’ve never gone on a vacation that I didn’t love, never traveled to a place that I didn’t care for. However, there was something different, more special about Bali that I can’t describe. Something seemingly minor, though, draws me to invest in this description: the characterization ofContinue reading “The People I Met in Bali”

Typically when I travel, I visit and enjoy museums, as they give me a broader perspective and a sense of the history of the place, enlarging my actual experience. When I was in Egypt last year, I immensely enjoyed the Cairo museum with its spectacular exhibits, many collected from nearby sites. Additionally, I had anContinue reading “Bali Museums”

This was day 14 of our trip to Bali, that ended up including time on Flores Island, another beautiful Indonesian island. Wait til you hear about today’s adventure du jour! It began at breakfast, when we exchanged waves with a cute three-year-old girl and her parents. We’d decided that we needed a day simply toContinue reading “Adventure du Jour”

We know we’re each in our own bubble, right? Self-focused, self-immersed, with our vision limited, not so much by being myopic, as much as by an inability to really see beyond ourselves. Well, my bubble right now is one of excessive goodness. I was reminded of this by Matt Haig’s book, The Midnight Library, p.Continue reading “In My Bubble”

What do you think this is going to be about? The title is a bit provocative, intentionally. I have just returned from an incredible weekend of pleasure, not decadent pleasure, but rather pleasure that expands and supports your best self. It was not self-serving and self-indulgent in an ordinary way, though it felt totally self-indulgent.Continue reading “Pleasure and Disruption”

It’s my writing time, but I don’t feel like writing. So, what to do? I’m approaching the end of a book I’ve really enjoyed (The Marriage Portrait, by Maggie O’Farrell) and I’m also nearing completion of a thousand-piece puzzle that I’d love to finish. Reading or puzzling? No, I’m a stoic, so I WILL WRITE.Continue reading “Not Writing”

A Friend has suggested that although travel is one way to ‘deepen life experience,’ attempting to live simply may be a better choice. These thoughtful ideas deserve a thoughtful reply. I have experienced frequent internal struggle between my climate activism, living simply (as a Quaker), and my desire to explore the world. Last week, IContinue reading “Not Only Travel”

Considering whether to finish writing my book, I ask you, my blog readers, if this might be of interest to you and to others you know. My introduction may include some of this: In her evocative memoir, The Empathy Diaries, Sherry Turkle, MIT professor of Social Studies of Science and Technology, explores what process mightContinue reading “Becoming Myself, through Travel”