The kid couldn’t have been older than 15 or 16. His jeans were ripped and his backpack looked like it had seen better days, but he was giving a monologue in the convenience store on all the reasons why he couldn’t wait to leave town to his friend behind the counter. “There’s nothing ever to do.... Continue Reading →
When photos come alive
I think kids today are missing out. They’re missing out on one of my all-time favorite hobbies. When I was young, my mom kept a large, green shoebox full of family pictures in her bedroom closet. When I was bored or felt blue and needed a pick-me-up I’d pull the box out to look at... Continue Reading →
How my worst day became one of my best
I can still hear the metallic crunch. Twenty five years later, if I close my eyes, I can still hear the crush of metal upon metal. I had just bought my first new car. I was working as a small-town newspaper reporter and had gotten a great deal on a new Geo Storm. The beater-up... Continue Reading →
Five things I’ve learned from my dog
After a long, long day running from meeting to meeting, I came home from work the other night and, if you had never set foot in our house before, you would have thought I had been away for decades. I opened the front door and our dog, Nittany, a five-year-old Bichon Frise – Shih Tzu greeted... Continue Reading →
A father and son: Two different morning routines
My son went about his normal routine. He got a quick shower and got dressed without a care in the world, like it was just a regular school day. I stubbed my toe and felt on edge. My son made himself some coffee and grabbed a bagel for breakfast. When he had eaten the bagel... Continue Reading →
Thank you Mom!
On this Mother’s Day Weekend, I think of all the things my mother gave me and gave up for me. I’ll never be able to thank her completely for everything she did for me. I share the blog I wrote about my mom a few a months ago. My hope is that my blog, An Amish... Continue Reading →
Walking on campus: A few thoughts
You pick up your child after she’s completed her first year of college and a million miscellaneous thoughts race through your head. I don’t claim that any of them make sense, but here’s a few that jumped to my mind: --When we dropped off my daughter at her college, we were able to fit everything... Continue Reading →
What it feels like when your child goes off to college
You drop your pride and joy off at college. You pull into your daughter’s new dorm full of nerves and excitement. You’re not sure what to feel, but you don’t have time to focus. The squad of resident assistants and greeters is on top of you in minutes to help unload your SUV brimming with... Continue Reading →
Special needs camp counselor: In over my head
I’ve always been awestruck by the challenge special education teachers face on a daily basis. I became even more impressed a number of years ago when I served as a weekend camp counselor for a mentally and physically disabled boy. I found the experience eye-opening. . . . . . . Joey, a 12-year-old boy with... Continue Reading →

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