My brothers didn't get pulled out of class. My friends Dana and Robby didn't get pulled out. None of the kids who sat near me had to go either. I walked out of my class, my fist in a ball, angered by the injustice. Every week from second to sixth grade, I had to leave... Continue Reading →
The simple skills we fail to learn in high school
(A version of this story ran on March 20, 2016.) My day had not started well. I forgot that I needed to drop my son at school and I was running late to work. I still needed to make a few tweaks to a presentation I was giving later that morning and I desperately needed... Continue Reading →
My refuge from the rain & thunder
(A version of this post ran in April 2019.) When I ran into trouble in school, when I felt like I didn’t fit-in with friends, when life seemed challenging, one place served as a refuge. When I struggled as a kid, I had one place I could go to get away. I liked the baseball... Continue Reading →
Let’s try this again: Paying homage to All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
(A version of this post ran in April 2020.) When life hits back, it can pack a powerful punch. In those moments, I find that I return to a few favorite things: my faith in God; my wife and my family; and my core belief system that goodness, kindness, and hard work will win out.... Continue Reading →
What’s it going to be?
The father in front of me look frazzled and was losing his patience. He had given his son a choice of Matchbox cars to buy for a birthday present for a friend. It was almost time to put the toy on the grocery store cash register. "Which is it going to be Max? The red... Continue Reading →
Don’t judge a book by its cover
On Thursday afternoon, I took a break from work and turned on the television. I was hoping to get a quick update on the weather. Can we expect some sunny skies this weekend? Or is Mother Nature going to stick out her tongue and keep it cold and gray? Of course, I turned on the... Continue Reading →
Lessons from mom
When I was a kid, my mother was a treasure-trove of folksy sayings. When I failed to make the varsity basketball team, she told me to "stop crying over spilled milk. When I was chomping at the bit for Christmas morning, she told me to "hold my horses." Some of her sayings and colloquialisms came... Continue Reading →
The Greensboro Four
You don't hear the names Ezell Blair, Jr., Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond mentioned much today. And that's a shame. The four men played a huge role in American history. Their names should flow off the tip of our tongues. Their accomplishments sure are worthy of it. I know I'll be thinking about... Continue Reading →
The joy of giving
My voice croaked. It wasn't a quiet sour-note hidden by the angelic voices of my classmates. No, it was a loud mid-sentence clunker that was there for everyone to hear. I've never had much of a singing voice. My stutter as a kid certainly played a part. I've just never been able to control my... Continue Reading →

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