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Postcards from the Transition

Postcards from the Transition.

  • Topics
    • Winds of Change
      • Winds of Change, Africa
      • The Fall of the Wall
      • Velvet Revolution
      • Arab Spring
      • Balkan Turmoil
      • 9/11
      • Soviet Union
    • Christmas Markets
    • Lent and Easter
    • Holy Land
    • Pillars of Hercules
    • Architecture
      • Boardwalk Towns
      • Bridges
      • Castles
      • Religious
    • Transportation
      • Trains
      • Ferries
  • Europe
    • Balkans
      • Albania
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Kosovo
      • Macedonia
      • Montenegro
      • Serbia
      • Turkey
    • Central Europe
      • Czech Republic
      • Hungary
      • Poland
      • Slovakia
    • Southern Europe
      • Gibraltar
      • Malta
      • Spain
    • Northern Europe
      • United Kingdom
      • Iceland and Faroes
      • Isle of Man
      • Baltic States
    • Western Europe
      • Belgium
      • Germany
      • Netherlands
  • Africa
    • Kenya
    • South Sudan
    • Tanzania
  • Caucasus
    • Armenia
    • Azerbaijan
    • Georgia
  • MENA
    • Ceuta (Spain)
    • Egypt
    • Israel
    • Jordan
    • Morocco
    • Oman
    • Qatar
    • Palestine
    • United Arab Emirates
  • N. America
    • Canada
    • Contiguous US
    • Cuba
    • Greenland
  • S. America
  • Alaska
    • Sitka
    • South Central Alaska
    • South East Alaska
  • Cruises
    • Iceland, Greenland & Scotland 2017

Category: Winds of Change

Winds of Change2 Comments

Political Junk.

December 9, 2022December 9, 2022 Rich McClear

After the deluge of political mail last cycle I vowed to count each piece of political mail I got this year and report back.  This report is late because we’ve had incredibly beautiful winter weather.  Walks and taking pics trump … Continue reading Political Junk.

McClear Family, Contiguous US, Winds of ChangeLeave a comment

Hardwood Fall

October 27, 2022October 27, 2022 Rich McClear

The fall colors in a hardwood forest take me back decades.  While we were primarily in New Jersey to enjoy being with family I took some time to explore places of memory.  We started our drive on Paramus Road going … Continue reading Hardwood Fall

Winds of Change1 Comment

Gorbi

August 31, 2022August 31, 2022 Rich McClear

Last night I didn’t sleep well.  I wasn’t restless, I didn’t toss and turn. I lay still in thought, contemplation, and prayer.  Mikhail Gorbachev is dead.  My Albanian friend Arben Kallamata posted on Facebook (Awkwardly translated from Albanian by Facebook): … Continue reading Gorbi

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Independence Day 2022

July 3, 2022July 3, 2022 Rich McClear

Two hundred and forty-six ago a resolution written by Thomas Jefferson and moved by John Adams passed the Continental Congress. It read, in part: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are … Continue reading Independence Day 2022

Winds of Change1 Comment
Birthdays Past

3 Memorable Birthdays, Thoughts on Turning 75

November 20, 2021November 20, 2021 Rich McClear

This is one of those “milestone” birthdays. 75.  And I’m happy to still be here during this second year of the pandemic. Breakthrough COVID caught me. It landed me in the hospital but couldn’t hold me. I’m still hare and … Continue reading 3 Memorable Birthdays, Thoughts on Turning 75

Winds of Change, Germany, The Fall of the Wall1 Comment

Walking the Line Between Hope and Despair.

November 9, 2021November 17, 2021 Rich McClear

Thirty two years ago our lives changed forever.  The Berlin Wall fell.  Our family had been in Berlin the summer before and the wall looked permanent.  We went back the next summer in time to see streets opening in the … Continue reading Walking the Line Between Hope and Despair.

Winds of Change1 Comment

After 245 Years “Jefferson Still Lives!”

July 4, 2021July 4, 2021 Rich McClear

Two hundred and forty-five ago a resolution written by Thomas Jefferson and moved by John Adams passed the Continental Congress.  It read, in part: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are … Continue reading After 245 Years “Jefferson Still Lives!”

Winds of Change6 Comments

Welcome To 2021

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 Rich McClear

I have never been one to celebrate the New Year.  It always seemed like an artificial construct.  I celebrated my own new year, the start of the school year, which coincided with introduction of the new models of cars when … Continue reading Welcome To 2021

Winds of Change1 Comment

What Are You Singing New Year’s Eve?

December 31, 2020December 31, 2020 Rich McClear

This year on Times Square, according to the press release (which doesn’t get around to telling you that no one is invited to be there until the 4th paragraph, talk about burying the lede), the program will include the traditional … Continue reading What Are You Singing New Year’s Eve?

Winds of Change2 Comments

July 4, 2020

July 4, 2020July 4, 2020 Rich McClear

Two hundred and forty four ago a resolution written by Thomas Jefferson and moved by John Adams passed the Continental Congress.  It read, in part: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they … Continue reading July 4, 2020

Germany, Letters from the Transition, Winds of Change1 Comment

30 Years Ago This Week — Berlin.

June 14, 2020December 1, 2020 Rich McClear

Thirty years ago, this week my family was in Berlin.  We had been there 10 months earlier and saw a wall that looked permanent.  Three months later we saw it come down on TV.  We went back in June 1990 … Continue reading 30 Years Ago This Week — Berlin.

Czech Republic, Letters from the Transition, Velvet Revolution, Winds of ChangeLeave a comment

30 Years Ago This Week

June 5, 2020June 14, 2020 Rich McClear

June 6, 2020 Thirty years ago, this week we were in the Czechoslovakia. We were there because in 1989 we took our kids to Berlin to see the wall. Two and a half months later it came down.  In 1990 … Continue reading 30 Years Ago This Week

Winds of ChangeLeave a comment

After 247 Years, Jefferson Still Lives!

July 4, 2019July 4, 2019 Rich McClear

Back in 1993 member of the committee drafting the Albanian Constitution asked me who was right in their view of government, Jefferson or Adams.  I thought about an answer and told him this story.  Later I was asked to tell … Continue reading After 247 Years, Jefferson Still Lives!

Cruises, Transportation, Winds of Change1 Comment

Goodbye Old Friend

July 2, 2019July 3, 2019 Rich McClear

In which I say goodbye to a ship named Prinsendam – the second time around. I was new to Juneau, looking across Gastineau Channel from my home in North Douglas.  A neat little cruise ship pulled into Juneau’s dock.  It … Continue reading Goodbye Old Friend

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Matzi

May 15, 2019May 15, 2019 Rich McClear

Matzi (Albanian for cat) came into our lives when our cat “Smite” died.  Our husky dog, Merlin, went into mourning, with a keening howl that would not stop.  We went to the shelter to find a “rescue cat.”  We asked … Continue reading Matzi

Winds of Change1 Comment

JEFFERSON STILL LIVES !!!

July 3, 2018June 30, 2018 Rich McClear

Two hundred and forty two years ago a resolution written by Thomas Jefferson and moved by John Adams passed the Continental Congress.  It read, in part: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that … Continue reading JEFFERSON STILL LIVES !!!

Sitka, Winds of Change3 Comments

Remember — It Could Be Us.

June 30, 2018June 30, 2018 Rich McClear

Around 150 Sitkans joined other people in other cities around the US in a “Families Belong Together” march.  To be precise Suzi and I counted 147 people march past us while I was taking pictures.  We met several more at … Continue reading Remember — It Could Be Us.

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Reflections on Turning 71

November 22, 2017 Rich McClear

60 years ago, when I was eleven, I got a lot of birthday cards, but they all came from New York and New Jersey.  Probably all came from within a 30 mile radius of the Empire State Building. Five years … Continue reading Reflections on Turning 71

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After 241 Years…. Jefferson Still Lives!

July 4, 2017July 2, 2017 Rich McClear

Two hundred and forty one years ago a resolution written by Thomas Jefferson and moved by John Adams passed the Continental Congress.  It read, in part: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that … Continue reading After 241 Years…. Jefferson Still Lives!

Sitka, Winds of ChangeLeave a comment

Sitka in Solidarity, Tranche 2

January 21, 2017January 21, 2017 Rich McClear

Here is tranche 2 of the pictures of today’s march in Sitka.  Sitka is lookin’ good!  Click here to look at tranche 1 of the photos. Continue reading Sitka in Solidarity, Tranche 2

Sitka, Winds of ChangeLeave a comment

Sitka In Solidarity

January 21, 2017January 22, 2017 Rich McClear

I have not seen anything like it in Sitka.  Estimates vary from a low of 500 to nearly 1,000 people marching respectfully.  I saw people for all sorts of different causes from all walks of life, and many different persuasions. … Continue reading Sitka In Solidarity

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Reflections On Turning 70

November 21, 2016November 22, 2016 Rich McClear

This is supposed to be one of those “milestone” birthdays.  Even the Bible mentions it, ominously. “Three Score and Ten” is the measure of man’s life.  But I’m not feeling like I’ve passed a milestone.  Other birthdays were different. When … Continue reading Reflections On Turning 70

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October 5, 2000

October 5, 2015January 17, 2016 Rich McClear

Fifteen years ago today Serbian president Milosevic fell from power.  It was a day of great joy and celebration.  On October 5 Milosevic fell, on October 6 I tried to get a Serbian visa, the embassy was closed.  On October … Continue reading October 5, 2000

Albania, Albanian TransitionLeave a comment

A 1993 Albanian Bus Adventure, Tirana to Vlora and back

September 4, 2014August 23, 2015 Rich McClear

It’s Throwback Thursday. This is a letter from November, 1993.  I edited out the middle of the letter, where I talk about our time in Vlora, for reasons of length.  But I remember we went swimming in the Adriatic Sea … Continue reading A 1993 Albanian Bus Adventure, Tirana to Vlora and back

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