Category: The Moosilauke Letters

all around youall the time vultureVultures make raspy, drawn-out hissing sounds while feeding and fighting, along with grunting noises that can sound like hungry pigs or dogs barking in the distance.  Courting vultures may give a yapping sound although sometimes it just plain old squeaks. They always sound annoyed.  Probably because they are always annoyed.… Continue reading Sound Off or How to Recognize Your Friends in the Woods — part II

all around youall the time Open your ears and close your eyes. cow“Mooo,” said the cow.  I was surprised.  I think of myself as a very good listener and I must say that in general, cows do not moo.  Cows low.  There’s a difference. N’wait, I’ll give you this.  Some cows moo.  You can actually… Continue reading Sound Off or How to Recognize Your Friends in the Woods — part I

May   2021 My brother Steve had a birthday one week ago.  He turned 85, or would have had he lived.  Let me show you my tribute to him, delivered at his on-line wake. I’m Kenn, Steve’s younger brother, have been all my life. I could be crying a lot here.  I certainly had my… Continue reading Tribute to Steve

June  2022 Cemeteries are not places I frequent.  Rarely, if ever, do I visit the people who live there.  Well, actually, I often visit the cemetery two blocks from my house on my daily walks.  I simply am not there to visit with the residents. Until today.  It was time to say goodbye to Mom. … Continue reading To Visit Mom

New MexicoJuly  2013 We have some free time and it’s a good day for exploring.  We visit Carlsbad Caverns, beyond Whites City, a provocative name at best. Mount Davis, the high point of Pennsylvania, is on Negro Mountain.  No one in the history of this area was named Negro.  Here in New Mexico however, there… Continue reading Whites City/Carlsbad

Forest HillsPennsylvaniaJanuary  2014January  2015 A Pittsburgh community called Forest Hills is home to the big light bulb thing you see in the photograph. Actually it’s not really a light bulb, it’s just shaped like one.  This large not-a-lightbulb was the first van de Graaf nuclear generator in the country, or maybe the world, depending on… Continue reading Pennsylvania Series XVIII — Atom Smasher

March  2017 statuesWest Carson Street, Pittsburgh Stuck in detour traffic before even getting out of town.  Sitting still on the road, we are watched by these “religious figures inspired by the statues of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.”  MortalityBeckley, West Virginia Sculpted by Bill Hopen, on the front lawn of Tamarack, the “cultural center with… Continue reading Roadtrip Florida I

West Virginia/VirginiaJuly 2011 & July 2014 This evening we go for dinner and get prepared for our hike tomorrow. We have enough time for one more attraction.  It’s outside an office building in downtown Wytheville.  While Lisa and I are visiting this attraction, a police officer tells me that this thing, this attraction, has been… Continue reading Mountaineer Expressway:  It’s a Pencil

West Virginia/VirginiaJuly 2011 & July 2014 This gentleman was walking in the other direction from us.  That was good.

FloralaAlabamaNovember  2013 Overheard in a checkout line at the Piggly Wiggly store… womanCarl?  Carl, is that you? CarlOh hi, Emma.  How you doin’? EmmaGettin’ along.  But you know, it’s sometimes hard with a disability. CarlHey, did you see Willa?  Didja hear about her cat?  She… EmmaYeah, too bad.  That cat was weird anyway. me, thinkingIsn’t… Continue reading Didja Hear About Her Cat?