Monthly Archives: December 2025

Dan’s Ten Random Thoughts About Turning 78 This Very Day (December 27, 2025)

Posted on by

Please be gentle as you read this reflection; I’m really trying to not overdo the humble brags.

Well, here goes.

One, there is a caveat – At 78, I know that I was born on second base – supportive parents who valued family life and siblings who are just decent, generous folks. As one who didn’t have a girlfriend in high school, I can only think that the Universe took pity on me and brought Hannah into my life at the College of Wooster in Ohio.

After seven years of marriage, two years of which were unsuccessful attempts at creating a family, Hannah and I gave up and planned to move to Montana. Then here comes the Universe again. Hannah got pregnant with our livewire first child, Molly. Soon after there was a miscarriage, but Robyn, a courageous one indeed, came along two years later. Rough and ready Will soon followed. Suffice it to say, like many of you grandparents, we have rockin’ grandkids.

Enough background.

Two, it’s still all about connection, building relationships one by one. Once a wine guy to lubricate conversation, my current preference is coffee/breakfast with a friend/fam at a local diner (e.g., Betty’s Kitchen in North Hampton, NH, The Morning Buzz in Amesbury, Mass, The Brass Bird in Carpinteria, CA, or Dunkin‘ anywhere). Ping pong, then beers, too, build strong bones and healthy relationships.

Three, at 78, I am aware of my mortality. My first brush with cancer, albeit the benign kind of basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer), got my attention this past November. More and more, age slows me down as I move laterally like a potted plant when I play pickleball.

Four, I’ve always been one who likes to exercise. I first realized that as a graduate assistant in the Human Performance Lab at Arizona State University. I couldn’t wait to be the subject to run on the treadmill for the VO2 Max test that measures the body’s efficient use of oxygen. To this day, a morning walk before breakfast is my go-to wake me up. Most mornings I love going to the Y to work out, be it on the elliptical, recumbent bicycle, glider, treadmill, pull-up or leg press machines.

Five, Hannah and I are fortunate to go to California in winter where I can be outside and active early mornings before breakfast walking to the Seal Sanctuary, mid-mornings hiking on the nearby trails into the mountains, late afternoon biking along Padaro Lane, and even at night walking down Linden Avenue into town. Something I can’t so easily do in wintertime Maine.

Six, I am on a statin for high cholesterol and am under a neurologist care, taking a daily adult low dose aspirin (81 mg) to reduce the possibility that past episodes (2002,2017) of Trans Global Amnesia will not be repeated.

Seven, of late, I have stopped taking melatonin, a natural hormone, that “supposedly” promotes better sleep. It didn’t. I sleep even better without it. I also dropped my morning multi-vitamin. If the only reason to take it is “that it can’t hurt,” I don’t find that a compelling case. I’m keeping my fish oil and adding Vitamin D tablets. That said, I am a big time fan of vaccines. I get my flu and Covid shots whenever I’m eligible.

Eight, I once was quite the jumper to the worst case scenarios. Wanting to change, I knew the first step in breaking old patterns is to practice new patterns. I repeat the following practices/mantra below so I don’t “distress myself imaginings.” (Max Ehrmann in the Desiderata)

Nine, when wondering, I think “what would I advise another to do.” I buy two Native American principles of “What happens is exactly what is supposed to happen” and “What’s over is over.” I deny the power of self-doubts over me.

I practice the wisdom of Maya Angelou “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Courage is having faith when doubting would be easier. Events don’t happen to me, they happen for me. These continue to take lots of practice for me to make them my own.

Ten, the noteworthy events of 2025 were our pursuit of the Great Maine Scavenger Hunt – where Hannah and I traveled 3000 miles around the state of Maine visiting iconic destinations of the Pine Tree State (e.g., Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park at sunrise, Clifford’s Donut Stop in Phillips, Maine). The delight for me was that I got to do it all with Hannah.

By the way, California Route 78 goes from San Diego inland to the east towards Arizona. There is no Route 78 in Maine.

Dan’s Wednesday Quote of the Week When You Don’t Know What to Say #244 (December 24, 2025)

Posted on by

What do you say to a parent of a three-year old with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a fatal disease like ALS that ravages the body until there is no muscle left)? Tanmeet Sethi, MD, has three ideas for you when you know a parent of such a child and don’t know what to say:

That sounds so hard.

Or you might offer the human truth

I don’t know what to say, but I’m here with you.

Rather than avoiding parents of really sick kids, try

How about a simple I love you.

Tanmeet Sethi in the Modern Love column in the Sunday New York Times (December 14, 2025)

Dan and Hannah Hike the Pondicherry Trail in Bridgton, Maine (June 2025)

Posted on by

(Author’s note – With recent blogs of our summer trips to South Dakota, Wyoming, and the northern Rockies taking priority, I am now posting new blogs from the late spring of 2025.)

The 2025 Great Maine Scavenger Hunt has taken Hannah and me all over the Great State of Maine. Today we have come to Bridgton to experience the Rufus Porter Museum as part of the GMSH. In these parts, Rufus is referred to as “America’s da Vinci” because of his many inventions such as railway signals, churns, a life preserver, a cheese press, and a revolving rifle. As well, he was an accomplished painter of panoramic panels (see below) and portraits.

Little did we know that Hannah and I would be infatuated with this small town, 75 miles away from our home in York. It’s a town that we had never visited in the 43 years that we have lived in Maine.

This mid-June morning we meet the Hot Dog Lady fundraising; she offers us a hot dog, chips, and a soda for $5 American. Another small town win!

As the local everything store, Reny’s Department Store dominates the Main Street in a good way. The wide sidewalks make this a very walkable town. Some of the crosswalks are 20′ wide letting one and all know that the pedestrians rule the day.

A mural just off Main Street

And then to top it off, at Pondicherry Park in the heart of town, there are three miles of trails of woodlands, fields, streams, and wetlands; trails with little elevation gain make hiking a joy for one and all.

We start the white star to the top of the map on the yellow trail to the green trail parking lot at the bottom of the map. We work our way back to the Bob Dunning Bridge on the red and orange trails.

Bob Dunning Memorial Bridge designed by Andy Buck and constructed by local townsfolk.

This packed, fine gravel trail is basically level and made for one and all.

The trail boardwalk is bracketed by the late spring ferns.

Dan’s Quote of the Week #243 – Simple Gifts for this Holiday Season (December 17, 2025)

Posted on by

Need an idea for a Christmas present these holidays? You are in luck. Our Arizona friend, Nancy Turley, who is sending her love from South Africa, has a few gems for you.

Mend a quarrel

Seek out a forgotten friend

Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust

Write a letter

Give a soft answer

Encourage a young one

Keep a promise

Forego a grudge

Apologize

Try to understand

Laugh a little more

Speak your love and speak it again

Our friend Nancy with Papa James, her piano student. As you might imagine, she reports he is a joyous person. As for Nancy, she walks the walk living a life of service and connection.

Dan, Marj, and Dr. Cressey (2025) [Final Accounting]

Posted on by

Ever wonder how much your basic Mohs surgery costs?

Let me break it down for you.

The removal of 10 square centimeter tumor is billed at $2498.57. You could get a sweet Trek electric bicycle or a classic 2005 Mini Cooper with 182,000 miles for that kind of money!

There’s a lot that goes into that cost – the facility, the dermatology tech prepping me, the patient, the local anesthesia, and, most of all, the expertise of Dr. Cressey with over 8000 Mohs surgeries to her credit.

Now my United Healthcare Medicare insurance pays only $717.57 of that total. Who pays the difference? It seems that Optima Dermatology eats the $1751 adjustment! Yikes.

Then there is the $2218 charge for Dr. Cressey to move some skin around and stitch me up. Get this. United Healthcare pays a mere $330.27 of that charge. If you think that Optima Dermatology must make up the $1888.28 difference, you are as smart as you look.

So what is my financial contribution for this major operation? If you guessed $30 co-pay, you are a winner, winner, chicken dinner.

See the financial statement below.

I am fortunate indeed.

Dan and Hannah Again Hike Mount Will in Bethel, Maine (June 2025)

Posted on by

(Author’s note – With recent blogs of our summer trips to South Dakota, Wyoming, and the northern Rockies taking priority, I am now posting new blogs from the late spring of 2025 that have been itching to be read by the world at large.)

Four years ago, with the Covid vaccination finally available for all Americans, Hannah and I were guests of Donna and George, our Maine friends who have morphed into Tar Heels (i.e., in North Carolinians). That late September day in 2021, they met us at the Dunkin’ in Bethel, Maine for sublime hot coffee and to-die-for coffee cake muffins. They then introduced us to Mount Will. (As those who know us well know, Will is our favorite son).

This late June 2025 morning, Hannah and I are again in the Newry/Bethel/Sunday River area for the 2025 Great Maine Scavenger Hunt. Driving through Dixfield, Maine, we just can’t we pass up this photo op below. The short answer is that we can’t, but sadly we do, and then get lucky. Let me explain.

As we are tooling north to Clifford’s Donut Stop in Philips, Maine (click here for that blog), we pass this sign. Our rule of thumb is that whomever is driving decides when and where we stop. With Hannah thinking she’s going too fast to stop, we motor on. With a twelve-hour, 300 miles of backroads ahead of us, we let our hell-bent thinking dissuade us from going back to this sign. Within two miles, we are kicking ourselves for not stopping! For what, at most five minutes!

We motor on and do get donuts at Clifford’s and return by the way we came on Route 142 south toward Frenchman’s Swimming Hole. We aren’t sure where we saw this sign. And then minutes before turning onto Route 2, there it is. The Universe sends this message – Next time, go back and have a moment. What’s the hurry! Geez, Louise, kids! You’re 77! In retirement, schedules and deadlines are mere suggestions.

Message received.

As usual, we plan a hike when we are out seeking Great Maine Scavenger Hunt 2025 destinations. Today it’s Mount Will in nearby Newry.

With parking for eight to ten, we easily find a spot on this 74F late morning with less humidity. Let me take you on what will go down in Maine trail hiking history as a “wonderfully challenging” three plus miles of mountain hiking.

Just off Route 2 in Newry, Maine in the Bethel Town Forest

We start from the trailhead parking lot and hike clockwise up and down Mt. Will.

We start out on sole/soul loving pine needles.

Suffering from poison ivy from head to toe, here, there, and everywhere, I could have used a little Jewelweed. The redness and swelling from the poison ivy got so itchy and alarming, I went to York Walk-In Clinic and received an eight-day regimen of prednisone.

The woodlands provide shade on this upper 70s sunny day.

In short order the trail gets serious, but the many switchbacks make our hiking day a dream.

From the South Cliffs towards the town of Bethel

Farmland from the South Cliffs

The blue blazes are a godsend and ever-present on the trail.