Category Archives: Family Stories

I Bless the Rains Down in Alcatraz

The girls are terrible at hearing song lyrics. Lindsay, in particular, is a stone-cold song slayer. When they were younger, I was driving the girls to a soccer or dance practice, and Ellie Goulding’s song “Lights” came on the radio. The girls knew the song and began singing along with all their typical gusto. WhenContinue reading “I Bless the Rains Down in Alcatraz”

A Glute Bridge of Honey that Totally Whams

Here’s the point in these stories where the snake begins to eat its tail or in other words where we revisit various story lines for updates. You may recall this photo from a few weeks ago. The girls in the family had a totally different take on it from what you all might have expected.Continue reading “A Glute Bridge of Honey that Totally Whams”

It Will All Be Fine

Here at Greenhill Manor we are optimists—everything is always at least half full or half positive. For example, I have annual anxiety about the Christmas tree. We have a tree stand that drills into the tree base so as to enhance water uptake. Roughly half of our trees drink like crazy, and the other halfContinue reading “It Will All Be Fine”

But Was It Funny?

Lindsay returned home Sunday afternoon. Her arrival was full of tension—her plane was early, she was starving, she was full of rage at other passengers (she’s often full of rage), and we were running a bit late. We had no time after Church to eat lunch; we just changed clothes and dashed out the door.Continue reading “But Was It Funny?”

Punishments for Crimes Against Hair

Graham hadn’t had a haircut in about ten weeks, so on Saturday, I made noon appointments at Supercuts for both of us. As I did, he headed out to do his weekend ten-mile run. He wound up getting back at 11:30 am, which is when we needed to leave. When he walked in the doorContinue reading “Punishments for Crimes Against Hair”

Don’t Get Married to the Mob

This is Lindsay and her boyfriend, Carson Smith. (Dobby is not Lindsay’s boyfriend no matter how much she begs.) Looks like a pleasant fellow, right? Nice smile, hugging Lindsay, good to Dobby, respectful to us. It seems great, until you realize he’s wanted for questioning in connection with a homicide. Let me rewind. When weContinue reading “Don’t Get Married to the Mob”

Be Famous on Your Own Merits

We spent Friday night trekking into the Reggie Lewis Center—a ninety-minute ride into Boston during rush hour—to see Graham run for five minutes and two seconds to be precise. He finished second in his mile heat, first among freshmen, and twelfth overall, and he set a new personal record. Once he finished, we hustled downContinue reading “Be Famous on Your Own Merits”

All the World is a Running Trail

Lauren went out with her mother and Lucia Wednesday night to get their nails done and to have dinner at the Mexican restaurant Cancun. Still battling my not-Micah-Parsons cold, I didn’t feel like making dinner, so I brought Graham to KFC/Taco Bell in the neighboring town of Bridgewater. The store used to have Pizza Hut,Continue reading “All the World is a Running Trail”

An Update from the International Brotherhood of Envelope Stuffers (IBES Local 33)

I sat on the couch with the remote in hand, the menu screen up, but Lauren sat at the kitchen table, within view but not paying attention to the TV. “I was thinking we could watch The Wire,” I said. “I’m just working on the Christmas cards,” she said. “Noted,” I said. “But if youContinue reading “An Update from the International Brotherhood of Envelope Stuffers (IBES Local 33)”

I Am No Micah Parsons

This past Sunday evening, the Dallas Cowboys played the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football. The Cowboys wrecked the Eagles, 33-13, much to the shared joy of Grant and me. The most stunning play of the game, to me anyway, happened in the first half. Micah Parsons, the Cowboys’ dynamo linebacker/defensive end hybrid, lined upContinue reading “I Am No Micah Parsons”