generations- Page 5

The physical therapist on Trapelo Road is part magician, part athletic coach, part confessor and, for a limited number of visits, part nearest and dearest. She hands out hope from a drawer of resistance bands. Every orthopedic muscle and ligament is known…

Recently, someone sent me a small framed copy of Banksy’s sketch, “Girl with Balloon.” It’s propped on the kitchen counter, between the mixer stand and the telephone. This is a tenuous location. The telephone is a landline, and when it rings, sometimes…

“Well Siri, I think you’re ready for your test.” This is what my driving instructor told me when I shifted the Toyota into park outside Belmont Driving School. Her expression was cheerful; mine was one of mild shock, considering that in the…

Earlier this fall, I attended an event that 28-year-old me would have scoffed at: a non-alcoholic Oktoberfest. Sponsored by Dray, Boston’s first non-alcoholic (NA) bottle shop, the event had all the traditions you’d expect — pretzels, sausages, lederhosen — but not a…

The dog has her needs, just like the rest of us; but unlike the rest of us, every one of them is met with promptness and adoration. Many mornings, for instance, she wants to stroll through Rock Meadow conservation land, past the…

Somehow we had ended up in a crowded cafe, surrounded by densely packed tables and a sea of glowing laptop screens. Espresso machines hissed and baristas barked out orders, but the overwhelming sound was the robotic click of keyboard keys. The afternoon…

Until a few weeks ago, I would have full-heartedly recommended the nearby gourmet shop’s cinnamon bread to you. I would have served you a toasted slice without butter: naked bread, nothing but proud flavor, sold only twice a week in the store…

For the Gen Xers, seniors, or even Millennials reading this column, how often have you caught yourself saying, “I’m getting too old for that?” Once a month? Once a day? I probably had this thought daily when my kids were younger, and…

You’ve probably heard by now that Belmont High School has banned the use of phones during class. Believe me, it’s all anyone is talking about at school. BHS administrators are probably already studying the effectiveness of the ban — that is, its…