When my wife and I first got married, I remember thinking that she had the heart of a small child. We didn’t even have kids of our own yet, but she loved decorating for Christmas. I came home from work late one evening to find our small Northern Virginia apartment looking like Santa’s workshop. She... Continue Reading →
Thanksgiving is the Rodney Dangerfield of holidays and special events throughout the year. You remember Dangerfield, the comedian who used to appear regularly on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in the 70s and 80s and complain that he had a tough life. Like Dangerfield, Thanksgiving "gets no respect." For example, most folks celebrate Martin... Continue Reading →
Our family dog, Nittany, a Lhasa Apsa – Bichon Frise mix, is getting older. She’s lived a lifetime in her 12 years. She's slower and doesn’t get around as well as she once did. Her legs are not as good nowadays. She needs steps to get up into our bed and, when she sleeps, she... Continue Reading →
I was trying to write a note the other day to a coworker, and I kept getting stuck. The email wasn’t saying what I wanted it to say. I wasn’t writing an important treatise on the state of man. It wasn’t War and Peace. It was just a quick work note, but I was still... Continue Reading →
Middle school years are hard for everyone. Looking back a few weekends ago at a few of my school pictures, I was reminded of how hard those years can be. Forget about the geeky glasses, that took up my entire face, or the acne or the raging hormones, or a million other things all changing... Continue Reading →
I have projects that I should be finishing. I have calls and emails I should be returning. I have several large deadlines approaching. I see the large group of sharks starting to circle me. I should be swimming to the shore as fast as I can. It's not just work. I have chores at home... Continue Reading →
I reached out my arm to grab a slimy vine. I strained hard to reach it. Finally, I had it in my hands and pulled down as hard as I could. Instead of lifting me up, the vine snapped in half, leaving me with a small branch in my hand and I, unfortunately, sank lower... Continue Reading →
I cringed in my seat. I was annoyed. The speaker was supposed to be talking about college admissions and how to help your son or daughter pick a major. Instead, he was going down a completely different path, talking about how he as a white guy has received certain advantages that his female or non-white... Continue Reading →
I call this the warts and all column. My wife and I have been together for more than 28 years. When we tell people that we’ve been together that long, they ooh and aww, but I never feel like I’m properly explaining what it means. They're thinking long carefree walks in the park, full of long... Continue Reading →
The grass is cut low so you can see the dew glisten on the ground. The flower beds look immaculately cut and mulched. There isn’t a piece of liter on the ground. The campus looks friendly and inviting. We have been on a seemingly endless college tour since the summer. My son is a senior... Continue Reading →
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
You must be logged in to post a comment.