(A version of this story appeared on The Heart of The Matter on April 12, 2023.) I wrote the date at the top, folded the paper, and slid it into an envelope. Some weeks I’m good at this; some weeks, not so much. For the past 17 years, I’ve written my wife a short note every Wednesday.... Continue Reading →
Nuts, Bolts, and the Noise Within: Bleeding One Droplet at a Time
From grammar rules to racing the clock, writing is a constant friction. Yet, when keeping quiet feels worse than struggling for the right words, you keep tapping the keys.
Here’s to the Surprise
Some trees have lost their leaves. Others are changing. And a few are holding on to summer. I’m reminded that we’re all in different seasons of life—and that we rarely know the whole story someone else is carrying.
Grace Under Fire: Be Kind Anyway
I had been saving up my last two pieces of candy. I was going to enjoy them. When recess came, though, I gave one to a kid in my class. He was supposed to be my friend, and sharing seemed like the nice thing to do. Later that afternoon, I stuttered while reading aloud. I... Continue Reading →
Salty Air & Simple Things
From moody introverted seagulls and missing personalized keychains to the undisputed supremacy of beach ice cream, here are a few simple observations and lessons learned from a recent trip to Bethany Beach.
Doc Holliday, Piglet, and a Phone Call Out of the Blue
From rigged toilets in Lethal Weapon to quiet moments with Piglet, an unexpected call from an old friend serves as a reminder of the many different ways we support each other through the thick and the thin.
Light as a feather
I wasn't looking for hope, but I found it. I was thinking a couple weekends ago about a new adventure that I've found myself on. I was thinking about both rapid and calm waters. Of course, I was in my own head analyzing every action and inaction a million times over. An AI image of... Continue Reading →
A Shoulder To Cry On – Part Two
I know I'm good, but I didn't realize that I had psychic powers. I wrote in April about how I was inspired by the deep friendship between tennis greats Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. I didn't know at the time that Netflix was working on a new documentary on the two. The documentary Chris & Martina:... Continue Reading →
Betsy Ross and the Three Moochers (Why the Flag Has 5-Pointed Stars)
Betsy Ross was down to her last nerve. Oh, you won't find this story in any history book but legend has it that General George Washington visited Betsy in her Philadelphia upholstery business and flag shop in May 1776. Washington, along with two other men — financier Robert Morris and Colonel George Ross, her late husband's... Continue Reading →

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