When life hits back, and as we're finding out right now, it can pack a powerful punch, I find that I return to a few favorite things: God, my wife, my family, and my core belief system that goodness, kindness and hard work, and other related common everyday virtues, will win out. I may be... Continue Reading →
We’re in this together
When terrorists struck the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Northern Virginia., and a third jet that crashed in a small field in Somerset County on September 11, 2001, first responders, firemen, and police rushed to help the survivors. In the days that followed, we... Continue Reading →
Sticking up for myself
I stormed up to my bigger and stronger teammate and told him that he may have had an out-of-this-world batting swing and ranked as one of the best players on our baseball team, but he should stop bullying everyone. The rest of us didn’t appreciate his behavior. My teammates, seeing my bravery and courage, of... Continue Reading →
The Ice Queen
The woman stood in the middle of the ice rink, one toe up on the edge of the skate, and watched over the rink like a queen inspecting her staff or a hardened general watching over a battlefield. The woman wore a matching blue jacket and pants and a white headband that kept her hair... Continue Reading →
Whatever happened to Shop Class?
The whirling jigsaw cut through the wood like a sharp knife slicing through butter, sending dust and wood chips through the air. The shop teacher watched me closely with a blank stare, but he left me in control of everything. My father had a similar saw at home, but he didn’t like us kids using... Continue Reading →
We’re all imposters
The guy sitting two tables away coyly opens his smartphone camera and puts it on selfie view so that he can check himself out. When he sees that his hair and game-face are in place, he clicks off the camera. When his lunch guest arrives, he gets up and gives the visitor a strong handshake.... Continue Reading →
Telling time
I splurged last night. I bought myself a new watch. It's a finely tuned quartz chronograph with Swiss components and is water resistant to 100 meters. Some people shop and collect clothes. I collect watches. (I should add that most of my watches are moderately priced ones within my limited budget.) In this day and... Continue Reading →
Survival of the fittest
I feel fortunate some days to be upright and walking, none the worse for wear. It’s a mean, cruel world out there, but somehow I've survived. Think I'm joking. Here’s some of the things that I’ve survived in my short life: --Playing on 70’s playground equipment. Think metal monkey bars . . . nothing more... Continue Reading →
Why I’m a feminist
I’m not sure how it came up over dinner, but when I was a very young kid, my father grumbled about a woman that he worked with at the local steel plant, claiming that she had taken her job from another man. My father’s arms were waving, his voice had gotten louder, and a little... Continue Reading →

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