When Thanksgiving comes around each year, I like to reflect on a story author Kurt Vonnegut, best known for the novels Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions, used to tell frequently about his friend and fellow author, Joseph Heller. The two went to a party at a billionaire’s mansion in Shelter Island, New York.... Continue Reading →
Dessert anyone?
I know different cultures have their versions of Thanksgiving and giving thanks. We celebrate Thanksgiving next week in the U.S. When I reflect on Thanksgiving over the years, I think about spending time with my favorite people. I think of some of my favorite foods too: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, baked corn, and roasted broccoli.... Continue Reading →
What doesn’t kill you . . .
I would be angry, the frustration would build up, and the tears would come, but I didn't really have much of a way to stop them. I would promise myself that I would speak better the next time, I would speak slower, and the words would be clearer. When I think about my stutter and... Continue Reading →
A grateful heart
My wife had Christmas songs playing on the stereo. I'm sure Michael Bublé was somewhere on the playlist. Insert face palm here. How can I compete with that? Yes, I'm straying from my story. In any event, the Thanksgiving turkey was fresh from the oven and the house was full of robust smells. The table... Continue Reading →
Giving thanks
I took a break from working the other day to look out the window. The street was empty, everyone quarantined in their homes. I couldn’t help but think about the year we’ve had. If I had looked at the street one year ago, I would have expected to see people out-and-about, going on with their... Continue Reading →
Missing a few family members
When I was a young kid, I stumbled across the black-and-white 1947 movie, Miracle on 34th Street, starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, and a young Natalie Wood. My parents weren't home and instead of watching football late on a Sunday afternoon, I started watching the movie. I fell in love with the plot right away,... Continue Reading →
A walk in paradise
A small brook wanders through the woods. I step across a bridge that crosses the brook, look down and feel a calmness take over. I imagine falling asleep later in the evening to the sound of the churning water. I could stay and watch the brook forever, but I need to catch up with my... Continue Reading →
Two stories that make the “cold, hardened heart” melt
Coming off the practice field last week, Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Carson Wentz stopped to sign a jersey for an 11-year-old boy in a wheelchair. Pro athletes visit hospitals and support their favorite charities all the time. Detroit Lions Quarterback Matt Stafford recently called a 14-year-old double amputee onto the field during the team’s scrimmage, letting... Continue Reading →
The thin line between love and hate
The car came up fast behind me on the highway. The driver left little room between us. With a tractor-trailer in front of me in the left lane and slower traffic in the right lane, I was driving as fast as I could and had nowhere to go. One urgent stop, one quick change in... Continue Reading →

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