To my secret well-wisher

Dear person who sent me an unsigned Valentine’s Day card,

Did you expect I’d be feeling a bit down on Valentine’s Day? I was in one of those low moods that I can’t put a finger on when I found your card in the mailbox. I don’t remember the last time I got a Valentine’s Day card in the US mail. My late mother used to send them, but that was years ago, before her mental decline.

In a do-over life, I’d study music

Do you have to understand classical music and opera to enjoy them? My friends without musical training say no. They judge a performance by how it makes them feel, not whether they can analyze it. I’m not sure that works for me.

I once described myself to a music aficionado as “a musical illiterate.” I never had music lessons and didn’t grow up in a household that listened to music. 

I can’t say that I dislike classical music, but I don’t really hear it so don’t get much from it. In contrast, I usually find folk, rock, and country music accessible, maybe because of simple melodies and meaningful lyrics.

Choose a reading chair that’s good for your back

With today’s attention to ergonomic work stations, most of us know the importance of a proper desk chair. But when furnishing our living rooms, we’re more likely to focus on cushiness and style than on how a chair affects our bodies.