My son sees my car and starts walking toward me. I flash my headlights in the dark just to make sure he sees me. His head is down, and he looks tired. He’s been working a ton of hours this summer, saving up for his second year of college. He gets in the car and... Continue Reading →
Say cheese!
My wife and daughter embrace for a minute. It's a quiet hug between the two of them, both happy for the long weekend and the time together. My youngest son stands up now and gets in on the action, thanking my daughter for helping him move home for the summer. Like clockwork, before I can... Continue Reading →
Making a fashion statement
I was looking online the other day for a new pair of shorts for the summer. I’ve lost some weight and need a new pair. When the kids were young, I went with the traditional dad shorts, you know the kind, the khaki-colored shorts with a roomy fit and lots of pockets, the more pockets... Continue Reading →
Looking forward to a cool summer treat
When I was a kid, we lived on a rural country road. We got a few trucks and lots of Amish horse and buggies traveling by, but we didn't get a lot of ice cream trucks driving our way. So, when my wife and I first moved into our house, I was like a little... Continue Reading →
Changing with the times
When I was younger, I was wound pretty tight, struggling to keep all the bouncing balls at work and home from falling. There were times when I managed it well and, then other times, not so well. I like to think that I've changed. For example, three years ago, our youngest son was driving with... Continue Reading →
Give dad a hug!
I've always loved Mark Twain's down-home, folksy advice. "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." "When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." "It is better to keep your... Continue Reading →
The best way to end a cold, cold day
I have memories of my kids coming to me when they were young and needing daddy to scare away the monsters underneath their beds. I have memories of giving them some dad wisdom about which course to take in college or how to handle a tough boss. I even have funny stories of getting on... Continue Reading →
Choosing Hope #5: Reasons to be hopeful
(Fifth in a week-long series on hope and optimism for the future.) I closed my email and turned my phone over so that I couldn't see the screen. I didn't get the news I wanted. I had been hoping for something else. I wanted to shout, I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry out... Continue Reading →
The wind at our back
In the middle of the craziness, I don’t think I yelled it, but I could have. I know I was certainly thinking it: “Run Toto run, run like the wind.” My son needed his car with him in California, so when he was on leave earlier last month, we drove it cross country. The “California... Continue Reading →

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