When I was a missionary, I spent five months with an elder who was a quarter Cherokee and who grew up on the reservation in North Carolina. We were going from house to house and knocking doors near Occidental College, and as we approached the porch of a small yellow house, my companion froze. “HoldContinue reading “Quoth the Raven: Fear Me Forevermore”
Category Archives: Adult Years
The Lonely Grandmothering Preview
The family of Lindsay’s boyfriend, Carson, joined us for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Our eastern Pennsylvania visitors included, oldest to youngest, Chad, Carrie, Carson, and Griffin. Griffin is entering eighth grade and started the visit off with a bang—he marched in wearing a hideous Philadelphia 76ers hat. Tactical error on his part. “Wow,Continue reading “The Lonely Grandmothering Preview”
All the Promises We Make
Lauren and I got engaged in her final semester at BYU. In the waning days of that semester, she was drafting a huge paper on Eleanor Roosevelt and advice columns she used to write. I was an English major and writer, so Lauren asked me to read her paper and offer comments. It was probablyContinue reading “All the Promises We Make”
Show em You’re a Tiger
A few weeks after Bowie joined Lucia and Brayden, Lucia texted me to ask if I thought it was a bad idea to get another dog. I said something along the lines that if both halves of the marriage were good with it, it was probably fine. Turns out that Lu and Brayden had beenContinue reading “Show em You’re a Tiger”
Massive Head Wound Harry Takes a Trip
I woke up the morning after the fall with the head wrap still in place and only a little blood in the gauze. Great first aid by me, if I say so myself. As we got ready to head out for our morning walk, Lauren said, “I hope you’re planning to take that thing off,”Continue reading “Massive Head Wound Harry Takes a Trip”
Kids, Do Not Try This at Home
After a hiatus to write a novel, I am back and with stories more devastating than ever. You know the old saying: no poorly executed good deed goes unpunished. A couple weeks ago, Lauren drove Lindsay to western NY to connect with the family of Lindsay’s boyfriend. When I finished work and dinner, I hadContinue reading “Kids, Do Not Try This at Home”
For Better or Worse, God is in the Details
I have heard members of my religion exclaim that “God is in the details” and “God micromanages our lives” and “we should turn it all over to God.” I start almost every day ready to turn it all over to God and go back to bed, but I suppose that’s not how it works. TheContinue reading “For Better or Worse, God is in the Details”
Another Jewel in my Crown: Bowie
Latter-Day Saints are big into family history and into how their actions may affect future generations. The legend in the Laws family is that a General Authority relative used to encourage all his kids to have more children and used to celebrate the births of his grandchildren by exclaiming, “Another jewel in my crown!” Well,Continue reading “Another Jewel in my Crown: Bowie”
Lessons from the Plane
I’ve been on a number of planes lately—to and from Salt Lake City twice and to and from Hawaii. As you probably know, the planes are all jammed, the space between seats is small, there’s almost no way to sleep sitting up, the food is criminal, and people’s behavior is wildly divergent—some realize we’re allContinue reading “Lessons from the Plane”
Let Us Now Praise Track Athletes
Graham had a dual meet on Tuesday against nearby track rival Marshfield. His buddy Jack, a sophomore on his team, had been promising to beat him in the eight hundred, and finally they squared off. With three hundred meters to go, Graham passed Jack, but on the final curve, Jack ran Graham down. I wasContinue reading “Let Us Now Praise Track Athletes”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 