The Laboratory

This is a landscape painting by the Dutch master Rembrandt. The painting's main subject is a sturdy stone bridge crossing a body of water in a rural setting. It is not a detailed, realistic depiction but rather an emotional landscape. The palette is dominated by deep, dark tones—rich browns, ochr...

Understanding Friendship A quest to understand understanding: What is friendship?
Or, more precisely, what does it take to be a friend?
I've never considered myself a good friend to anyone.
I'd offer help, not necessarily when it was convenient, but when it didn't cost too much, if that makes sense.
I suppose I'd evaluate the investment.
I might help for days or weeks if I deemed it worthy and if it didn't take away from my family.
If I believed it would in any way negatively impact my child ...

I. It's a long, long way to the country, where I wade and splash in the creek; And a long, long way to the Ferncreek Fair, The Fair where I was last week: It's a long, long way to the end of the world, Where the sun blows out his beams; But the way is short, in your warm bed curled, To the old, old Land of Dreams. II. It's a long, long way to go up stairs When you're down in the yard below; And a long, long way where no boy cares To ever want to go: It's a long, long way to the world's far en...