By Lois Requist Have you become used to people talking to you when there is no one there? No, this isn’t a matter of senility or hearing voices from some undefined source, some outer world. I’m used to a GPS (global positioning system) guiding me as I drive. I bought a Prius about ten years […]
Voice of the Village: The inevitable death and taxes
By Lois Requist Grim subjects with which to start off the new year? Not necessarily. Viewpoint is everything. I’ve already lived a long and good life. Of course, I hope and actively work to do what I can to live longer and enjoy each day. Taxes remind us of what we pay to […]
Voice of the Village: A piece of peace on Earth
By Lois Requist Noting when this column would be published, I thought, write something connected to Christmas, the holidays, but what could I say that hasn’t been said? We pass around good wishes, listen to the sentiments of those whose opinions are broadcast, however, if we also listen to the news, none of it has […]
Voice of the Village: What does it mean to need something?
By Lois Requist In an age of a great deal of material “stuff,” what does the word “need” mean? Can we separate it from “want?” Sometimes I hear someone say “I’m starving,” which means they haven’t eaten in a few hours. “First world problems” is the term some people call these questions. When we started […]
Voice of the Village: Can you leave your home quickly if you need to?
By Lois Requist The recent fires in Santa Rosa, Napa, and other nearby communities, as well as a question from one of our members, made us think about preparation for a disaster of any kind—an earthquake, an industrial accident, or any crisis here in town. While we aren’t nestled up against hills, and so have […]
Voice of the Village: Do you want to age in place?
By Lois Requist About three years ago, when I was just getting into the village idea, I frequently heard the term “aging in place.” I even used it for a while. Not anymore. This term doesn’t sound like any activity is taking place, certainly nothing robust. When I think of how to use the rest […]
Voice of the Village: Aging and attitude
By Lois Requist Special to the Herald Last week, you may have seen Judie Donaldson’s remarks here about the revolution in aging. That got me to thinking. I grew up in Idaho, around quite a few older relatives—aunts, uncles, grandparents. They didn’t move so fast, in fact sitting down may have been what they […]
Author to hold signing for new edition of 2000 political novel at Bookshop Benicia
A lot can change in 17 years, but some things do not and even manage to become more noticeable. Friends of Benicia author Lois Requist noticed a lot of aspects of the current political climate that were similar to what was depicted in her 2000 political novel “Where Lilacs Bloom” which inspired her to publish […]
Photo: Poets’ minds at work
‘Poem homes’ remain in Benicia — for now
■ Poets fight back after vandals put future of program in doubt A public poetry program that lets people take home copies of locally composed verse will continue in Benicia, despite problems with vandalism to some of the containers that hold the compositions. The “poem homes” were started locally in 2010 by Ronna Leon, then […]