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Walking without a Cell Phone . . .

September 18, 2026

On this morning’s walk with Scampi, we headed to the IU campus, and I found myself noticing, again — this is a very regular occurrence — all the cell phones. How every student either had a cell phone in hand, kept taking it in and out of his or her pocket, or, more often, was actually focusing on it while walking. Oh, and many of them had ear buds with cell phone in pocket, either listening to who knows what, or actually, obviously conversing. Like the woman I passed who muttered “No” . . . and then again, a bit louder, “NO!”

Then there were the ones standing, waiting for a bus, all together and each one isolated, busy with his or her cell phone.

I wish I had some photos of what I saw. Not that you too don’t see it every day (unless you too are busy on your phone). But wait: I can’t get photos unless I have my cell phone with me on walk! So forget that!

I’m of an age that remembers seeing my first “personal computer” in someone’s home; must have been back in the late ’70s, and an entire corner of a room was devoted to it.

I’m also one who was married (from 1990 until he died in 2003) to Jeff Joel, whose dad, Amos Joel, invented the cell phone . . . 

And now, they’re literally everywhere. Demanding attention, each isolated person’s fleeting attention, flitting from one thing to another, and another and another. . .

This morning, I don’t remember seeing anyone walking without at least a pocketed cell phone. And I’d say that at least 80% had their cell phones in their hands, with at least 50% of the 80% focusing on them while walking. 

Usually I’m more focused on the trees, the twittering birds at their very tippy tops, the squirrels scampering up and down. But today? No. I found myself disturbed by cell phones. Disturbed by, not only the anonymity, but the actual anomie this phenomenon has introduced into society, so that, not only “anything goes,” but who knows what’s real?

I’m real. Are you?

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Allergic, to Ragweed? And I dare to pursue Allopathic Metrics

September 17, 2026

Ragweed, growing just outside our fence. I wonder if this is the culprit.

Ever since I returned from trip to North Carolina for the Crone gathering, I’ve noticed that I must be allergic to something. This is rare for me; in fact, I hardly remember being allergic to anything ever. But runny nose, sinus involvement, and weird coughing to clear my throat tell me it’s true.

Which means, I have a feeling, that for some reason my immune system is not working as well as it should.

Which is not surprising, given that the week with daughter-in-law Sue feels like a whirlwind that finally blew over. While we had a great time, I’m not used to such intensity for days on end.

At nearly 84 years old, I’d much rather be “at peace,” thank you!

Which means, I have a feeling, that my days as a long-distance traveler are over, or nearly over. I remember an aunt of mine, how she used to travel with groups long distance. I wonder how old she was when she stopped. Was she my age now? Older?

Today, after the third bad night’s sleep in a row (too much sneezing, coughing), I walked as usual this morning with Scampi. Before the sun came up. In fact, we got home after 3.5 miles just as the sun was peeking above the horizon. I noticed while walking, that my usual fast morning stride has slowed. Indeed, I have to remind myself to speed it up when I notice how slowly I’m walking. This unnerves me.

Growing older, yes, is not for sissies.

I hope to get a nap later this morning, so that I can go over to the nearby mall at 11:30, and the Endright Center for Aging, to sign up for a “health screen.” (Offered free, every six months.) On the other hand, should I do it now? Or should I wait until I feel more myself, more alive. Hmmm . . .

If I DO get a health screen, it will be the first time in many months of trying to figure out how I would go about it, the first time that I was able to actually check my health through the usual allopathic metrics. And, it would be the first time in at least ten years that I was inside, even briefly, the American medical system.

 

LATER:

I did go over to the Endright Center, and I did get a nap beforehand. That nap, in fact, seemed to have “cured” my  lingering malaise.

Meanwhile, my health indicators are A+! (I asked the nurse to add the A+).

I wonder if the nap itself shifted the metrics.