WALDEN POND             Henry David Thoreau has been an influence on my life since I was in high school. It wasn’t just his great “sound bite” quotes, although they continue to act as reminders, but the entirety of his writings, the complete thoughts and philosophies. I’ve never been able, in this crazy world to simplify…

When I was growing up our family had a camp on a recreational lake. It wasn’t the wilderness or anything, the lake was lined with camps and there was a small town just a couple miles up the road. Most of the camps were like ours, not suitable for all-season occupancy. The initial spring visit…

            I am fascinated by abandoned places. I have tendency to wonder about things anyway and closed and abandoned sites just beg for explanation or supposition. Even incomplete places are intriguing. When I was in high school, they were putting up a brand-new school out of town not far from my house. Once it took…