Writing from the Heart with Brian
Think, Laugh, & Cry Each Day
In my dream, I'm calm, cool, and collected. Danny Ocean's charm and planning skills seep out from my every pore. I look good in his tailored suit jacket. I've got Rusty Ryan's confidence and an unflappable ability to overcome any challenge. I'm working on my next heist, and I have cash registers ringing in my... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, I went to the doctor's office for my annual physical. The doctor is relatively young, but he walked into the small exam room and had an instant "grounding" effect. His composed demeanor acted as a buffer against the loudness in the hallway and the butterflies and stress I was feeling inside... Continue Reading →
When I was a kid, my mom would drive every April to the little hardware store in town. It sold fishing licenses and trout permits. She would buy one for my dad. She'd put it in a card and give it to him on his birthday. He would open it like it held a king's... Continue Reading →
I slumped in my seat annoyed. I had been anticipating school letting out and having my summer off. I was counting on sleeping in, pigging out on junk food, and doing whatever I wanted. I had plans to be a human sloth. My mother had other ideas. She had signed me up for vacation bible... Continue Reading →
Spring into action. Spring fever. Spring has sprung. Spring is a season of renewal, warmth, and new life. It really is an interesting time. Oh, it can be a tough one for the weatherman and woman. One day temperatures dip down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The next day, it's in the 70s and you feel... Continue Reading →
I never had an October Sky moment. In the 1999 movie October Sky, Homer Hickam becomes interested in rocket science after seeing Sputnik cross the sky and the start of the Space Age. With the help of his friends, Homer, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is determined to launch his own rocket. He hopes that it... Continue Reading →
I posted every week in 2025 about three things that made me grateful. I started my Big Three posts on a whim. I wasn't even sure how long I would keep at it. I half expected the series to last after a month of two. If I had known that I was going to keep... Continue Reading →
When my three kids were young, Christmas Morning was about all the normal things: Santa Claus and his reindeer; presents under the tree; and ripping the wrapping paper and playing with all their new toys. As a parent we tried to teach them about giving and sharing. We worried about them getting the true meaning... Continue Reading →
(A version of this story first appeared in November 2023. We're still a few weeks away from Thanksgiving, but the story is still very appropriate.) Each November, I like to reflect on a story author Kurt Vonnegut, best known for the novels Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse-Five, used to tell about his friend and fellow author, Joseph Heller. ... Continue Reading →
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
You must be logged in to post a comment.