Memoir

I Brake For East African Runners

I spend some of my free time in Washington DC’s Rock Creek Park, bicycling or hiking.  This slender gem winds its way through the northwest sector of the nation’s capital for five miles, following the aptly named Rock Creek.  Heavily wooded, the park is a haven for urban hikers and …

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The Solo Traveler: Friends Made, Friends Lost

When traveling solo, I try to meet and speak to other travelers. There are so many genuinely nice people from many nations doing this. Some of these little friendships end with an exchange of contact information – some don’t. One example: I met the 2 German couples at a bus …

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The Rug

We were thirsty, the three of us. And hungry too. Jilli, petite and erudite, had come from class and, being a ‘dammer, had arrived on her bicycle. Tiger, tall and athletic and incurably mischievous, was restless. She had spent the afternoon in Vondelpark making new friends, 2 and 4-legged. Tiger …

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SoFlo Days 2 and 3

Day 2 I am loading up to go to Little Havana: all the equipment in the car, grabbing some extra clothes, when she buttonholes me. Was I going south? No more bikes up here; can you take me as far as Sunrise? Sure, why not? She gets in and off …

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Respect Should Flow Downward In A Hierarchy As Well As Upward

Below I describe a personal experience that illustrates an important principle that relates to any hierarchy. I attended the hour-long Executive Council meeting as a stand-in for my boss.  The invitees were a collection of VPs and high-ranking directors, and today the conference table was full.   I was in note-taking mode; my only …

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