The Useless Tree

Aidan

  • One Month

         Yesterday was a nice day: the sun was warm, warmer than usual for April in the Berkshires; the promise of Spring was everywhere.  It was the kind of day where happiness was close at hand.  Yet in the… Continue reading

  • Sisterhood

        This piece from today’s NYT jumped out at me: "Siblings of Disabled Have Their Own Troubles."   Nothing really new or earth-shattering in this.  We know well the kinds of challenges Maggie has faced over the years as the… Continue reading

  • A New Season

        Aidan died on the last day of winter, the day before the first day of spring.  It was almost as if he was reassuring us that, with time, our grief would pass, the darkness would yield to light, we… Continue reading

  • Friday I Ching Blogging: After Aidan

        As many of you know, I tend to use the I Ching for big political questions.  Some are vexed by this, because they understand the oracle as being more appropriate for intimate personal questions.  My own sense is… Continue reading

  • Being and Nonbeing

        I read the news differently these days.     One of my daily routines is scanning a dozen or so newspapers.  Although I look for news about China and topics to blog about in general, I cannot help… Continue reading

  • Aidan and Haleigh

        There is a concrete connection between my son, Aidan, and the young girl nearly beaten to death, Haleigh Poutre.  Aidan was cared for in the same pediatric intensive care unit, by the very same doctors and nurses, as… Continue reading

  • Dwell in the Ordinary

         Somewhere in Chuang Tzu (I am too tired to find the exact quotation just now), he tells us to "dwell in the ordinary."  He might even say it twice in the first eight chapters.  In any event, it… Continue reading

  • Eulogy

        We held Aidan’s funeral today.  Just like last night, many people came; some of the same people from the wake, but many others as well.  More teachers and aides from Albany came.  People from the hospital in Springfield… Continue reading

  • People Are Good

       We had a wake for Aidan tonight.  Many people came.  They hugged us, they remembered with us, they brought a great deal of love into the room.  It was a beautiful thing.      People from all walks of… Continue reading

  • There Can Be No Loss

       I am writing a eulogy for Aidan.   There are many ideas I am working through, some of which I will not actually use.  Here is one passage from Chuang Tzu that comes to mind, but which I will probably… Continue reading