(A version of this piece first appeared in July 2020.) I should have listened. Before we even left the house, I saw the weather report calling for the possibility of passing snow squalls. In the car, I heard the radio announcer caution listeners about how the snow was coming down West of us in big,... Continue Reading →
Chocolate makes everything better
For the Fourth of July holiday, we went out for ice cream. I looked over the ice cream case full of flavors like a five-year-old kid in a candy store. My eyes were bulging thinking of the possibilities. There was Death by Chocolate. If I didn’t want to tempt fate, but still wanted to play... Continue Reading →
Unfinished business
I see it clearly in my head. "Yes, your honor, forgive me. I plead guilty as charged." I'm standing in front of an angry looking judge in a black robe. He looks over his glasses at me. I'm in the center of his line of fire. His face gets redder and angrier anytime I make... Continue Reading →
Repairs, cars, and stand-up comedy
I had a few thoughts last week. A technician had to come to our house to take a look at our wifi connection. In the email, he mentioned that he would be coming between 9 and 11 a.m. on the agreed upon date. The time kept running through my head. If I operated like that... Continue Reading →
And then the rains came!
It started raining. It was light at first. A drop here, another there. Cats and dogs and everything in between! Within a few minutes, it started coming down faster. A steady beat like a drummer tapping on a set of drums. It grew faster and faster. The noise growing with intensity and drive. The water... Continue Reading →
My obsession: Beating the early bird
(A version of this story ran on May 31, 2016. I've made updates throughout the piece.) The clock in my head was going off: beep, beep, beep. The blaring sound got louder with every passing moment. I was late and the alarm wouldn’t stop until I got to my destination, my local county courthouse. I... Continue Reading →
Things people want to know, but rarely ask
We all have questions on things that don't always make sense to us. Here's a few questions I have on life. Some are whimsical, some are serious: --When you open a door that says "Emergency Exit Only. Door Must Remain Closed At All Times," what really happens? Will a blaring alarm go off? Or is... Continue Reading →
Writing for mental health
(A version of this story ran in February 2023) Early in my work career, I walked out of a team meeting with a friend of mine. I had slipped in late and he was giving me the rundown on what I had missed. When we were alone and could talk freely, I asked him about... Continue Reading →
The diagnosis: Live like you were dying
(A version of this story ran in November 2019.) The dentist came into the room with a copy of my dental x-ray in his hand. He gave me a big smile that actually made me more nervous and went out of his way to promote the benefits of the practice’s 360-degree panoramic x-ray machine. He... Continue Reading →

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