Blog draft feb 18 26

Bits & Pieces

Little Things: It continues to surprise me how the little things in life grab my attention. Although small, they have big meaning and impact. They are part of the foundation of daily living. A blade of grass, bits of grit on the pavement, a dog’s lonely howl, the click of a door closing, the hum of the refrigerator, varying in tone and tempo depending on which cycle it is in. Those are good examples of little things. Sometimes it is merely a whiff of air, filled with memories of distant past experiences. One whiff takes me back to a day in New England when bird chirps through the window accompanied the smell of fresh baked bread, or pie! Yum. Another whiff brings memory of a young lady I met in my early teens. She became my sister in law and recently died at 85. A whiff that transports me back 70 years. That’s a power thing packaged in small wrapping.

The little things come with a punch. A smell, a temperature and breeze, sounds, a touch or a twitch of taste. The memories are there just waiting to surprise.

Twigs and Combs: Driving from Texas through Arkansas once, I noted a view of the horizon. It was then early December and trees were their usual bare, twiggy selves. From my perspective, however, the horizon appeared like a comb of the sky, bare twigs of distant woods cleaning the sky of all impurities. It was a thoughtful moment, one of many when driving thousands of miles alone. Interesting what captures the driver’s attention. The bits and pieces of life embedded in the world around you. Whole and yet a combination of billions and trillions of bits and bobs. What are they? What do they look like? Does it excite more thought?

Who says driving alone for days isn’t interesting?

Smooth and Quiet: The new car smells new. But it also rides quiet. Higher speeds develop a little more road noise, but no much. Around town the silence is amazing. No other car has provided that feature. And smooth? Wow! This car rides like glass unless the road is truly broken up and rough surfaced. On solid unbroken pavement, however, the ride is smooth as silk.

This particular car is a mid-size SUV with hybrid gas/electric power to all four wheels all the time. The car seems planted on the road. Responsive, quick. But not with a roar. It is almost silent.

I’ve had hybrids before, about four of them, they have all been quieter, but this one is stunning with its version of smooth and quiet. I kid you not. Need a ride to prove it to yourself? Let me know. Locals only, please.

February 18, 2026

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