We all face death and grief in our own way and time. For some people, that time is measured in weeks or months, for others it's in years. Some shut down or throw themselves into their work, some grieve with tears, others spend time talking with caring friends or going for long walks. And then... Continue Reading →
Overcoming my stutter
(Reposted from December 2019.) The teacher stood over me like an angry giant. Looking back now I’m guessing that he couldn’t have been more than 5’8 or 5’9 tall and probably just graduated from college, but to my eyes, he held a position of authority, seemed pleased to catch his prey out of the classroom,... Continue Reading →
Finding true love
We've had several fall weddings and are also celebrating our own anniversary, so I've been thinking a lot about marriage. It's a monumental moment, two people walking down the aisle to say their vows. There's plenty of jokes about marriage: "I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want... Continue Reading →
Oh, my aching back!
My wife’s knees were bothering her the other day. She was on her feet much of the day and it was catching up to her. My back has been bothering me too. I joke that we’re getting older, but it’s more than that, we’ve earned our bruises the hard way. Here’s what I mean: When... Continue Reading →
I love you all — equally!
When my kids were young, they all wanted to know who was the favorite child. They were all smart in how they asked the question. They knew that if they simply came out and asked, my wife and I would say no one. So, they found new says to try to get to the heart... Continue Reading →
This I know — Version 2.0
When I was in grade school, I went out for pee wee football. As we lined up in rows and did our calisthenics before the start of practice — everything from jumping jacks to leg stretches to ab crunches — our coach would walk up and down each row offering a bit of wisdom, before... Continue Reading →
A few thoughts on writing
Several weeks ago, I wrote that when I was a young kid I started an Encouragement Box. I grabbed an old shoebox and started collecting old notes, photos, and comics that encouraged me and made me laugh at life's challenges. (If you're ever feeling down, Snoopy and the gang from Peanuts or Calvin and Hobbes are... Continue Reading →
Every dog has its day
Our dog Nittany jumped down from our couch the other night and she landed awkwardly on the hardwood floor on her back leg. Nittany, our fifteen-year-old, Lhasa Apsa – Bichon Frise, wobbled and then straightened up. She walked the rest of the night with a little hitch. She fortunately looked better the next day, but... Continue Reading →
Monkeying around!
I'm a big fan of the "story behind the story." I'm sure you know what I mean. For example, more than 600 million copies of the Harry Potter books have sold worldwide; more than 180 million copies have sold in the U.S. alone. It's common knowledge now, but I loved learning that the J.K. Rowling's... Continue Reading →

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