Ralph Gardner Jr.

1 week ago | wamc.org | Ralph Gardner Jr.

Baltimore orioles began to alight on the white clouds of Callery pear trees blossoms lining our driveway on April 26th, more than a week earlier than they have in the past. How do I know, especially since my memory sucks? Because when I’m not too lazy, I submit the data to eBird, the online database for bird observations. Why did these bold orange and black spring migrants come earlier this year? Was it because the pears blossomed early as well? And is that a result of climate change?

2 weeks ago | wamc.org | Ralph Gardner Jr.

Every once in a while I take time out from my busy day to wonder what’s happening to us as a nation. I mean I know what’s happening. I read the news. Way too much of it. One of the blessing of writing is that while you’re writing you’re not reading. It doubles as a form of mediation. But you can’t write all the time. Nor would my constitution allow it. After several hours I’m exhausted. Also, you can’t escape your thoughts in the middle of the night.

3 weeks ago | wamc.org | Ralph Gardner Jr.

Often, on the way to and from New York City riding the Taconic State Parkway I think of my grandparents. They would travel from their home in the Hudson Valley, the house we still own, to visit my parents, my brothers and me. I found something idyllic about their leisurely retirement lifestyle — the way they were free to come and go, seemingly without a care in the world, while my young life was bracketed by school, homework and my failed attempts to be popular.

3 weeks ago | berkshireeagle.com | Ralph Gardner Jr.

On the way to and from New York City riding the Taconic State Parkway, I often think of my grandparents. They would travel from their home in the Hudson Valley, the house we still own, to visit my parents, my brothers and me. I found something idyllic about their leisurely retirement lifestyle — the way they were free to come and go, seemingly without a care in the world, while my life was bracketed by school, homework and stress.

4 weeks ago | wamc.org | Ralph Gardner Jr.

My friend Aris, who died in December, made clear what he wanted done with his ashes. It’s on my to-do list for this spring. He wanted them sprinkled around the tree that stands in front of our house. I’m frankly not sure why. He visited rarely, only once in the last forty or so years, when he attended my daughter’s wedding here in 2019.