The Writer
Skip to contentHaving been a parent for 20 years, I figured I understood child-rearing. But no. Not since I’ve entered a new phase of parenting. Any mom or dad who raised a teenager knows this universal truth: about age 16, commensurate with … Continue reading
My 12-year-old daughter wants a goat. We don’t live on a farm, but we’re outside of town. So I can’t count on a city ordinance to save my grass. My friend Mickey had his batch of kids 10 years earlier … Continue reading
Our family spent the holidays in the hospital, on purpose. Home from college, our daughter needed surgery to correct a congenital circulation problem in her leg, so we pre-scheduled to have the remainder of the holiday break for her recovery. … Continue reading
Well, we did it. We sent our first child away to college. I shared news of the event with an old friend who asked, “How’s the homesickness?” I replied, “Oh, my wife and I are doing OK, I suppose.” It … Continue reading
How much hope is enough? How much is too much? Hope comes in different shades. We all hope for better lives for ourselves and our loved ones. This kind of hope — let’s call it “ambient hope” — is a … Continue reading
If you, your kid, grandkid or friend will apply to college, I need your help. Our oldest just went through the process. In the months leading up to it, friends told me, “Oh, it’s so much easier these days, with … Continue reading
Over the holiday break, I was watching the nightly news with my wife when an amazing scene unfolded on the screen. A man walking on a frozen pond broke through the ice with a splash and began flailing in the … Continue reading
OK, kids, sit down and let’s talk. I’ve changed my mind about tattoos. What? No, I’m not kidding. I accept that they’re an important fashion statement for your generation, no less than bell-bottom jeans and platform shoes were for mine. … Continue reading
The rains have come; the fires are being extinguished; and the crews are moving to their next assignments. Bees are active; school kids are planting pine seedlings; and we no longer look to the west with furrowed brows. There are … Continue reading
We received our phone call to evacuate at 5:30 Sunday morning. Of course, we weren’t prepared. Who is? At that point, we assumed we had one hour to collect essential belongings and make our exit. Somehow, our brains filled with … Continue reading
