One day when I was a freshman in college, I came back to my dorm room in the early afternoon after class. I opened the door to find my roommate sitting in his desk chair turned away from his computer and toward the door, but his head down, his eyes staring at the carpet. HeContinue reading “Parting Is Not Sweet Sorrow”
Tag Archives: Family
There’s a Talking Dog at Work
Grant texted me this morning: There is a talking dog at my work. Bet you’d like to visit Sheetz in Lewisburg to see the talking dog, huh? This hearkens back to several years ago when my father-in-law Leon was part of a nearby Church congregation that we had once been in. I asked him howContinue reading “There’s a Talking Dog at Work”
I Got Whammed
Driving home from Plymouth tonight, Lauren fiddled with my phone to put Christmas music on. “You were not listening to Christmas music before?” she said. “I had Graham in the car. I can only fight so many battles.” “I see.” In the backseat, Graham cleared his throat. “Dad, I think we have to agree thatContinue reading “I Got Whammed”
Old Guy: “Old People Are the Worst”
Lauren’s father Leon used to sit down next to his grandkids and say, “Old people are the worst. Don’t hang out with them.” They would giggle and say, “You’re right.” “Fortunately, I never grew up, so you can hang with me,” he would say. And this was mostly true—in his eighties, he had the senseContinue reading “Old Guy: “Old People Are the Worst””
We All Sit on Thrones of Lies
When we are in Lewisburg, we like to do runs and walks on the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail—a long, paved walking/biking trail that follows the path of old rail lines no longer in use. Lewisburg is home to the Bucknell Bison, and the logo is a charging buffalo. A sign along the trail refers toContinue reading “We All Sit on Thrones of Lies”
Try Reading Some Signs Now and Again
We went to Pennsylvania for the weekend to see Lindsay at a wrestling tournament and Grant at his football banquet. On the way we listened to the podcast Ghost Story, which focused on the long-ago murder of Naomi Dancy and the alleged suicide of her brother Morris. A historian who had researched Naomi’s husband JohnContinue reading “Try Reading Some Signs Now and Again”
Brand New Czar
The kids and I frequently trade texts about music—they’ll each send me something they just heard and say, “Check this out, it’s awesome” or “This song goes hard” or “Sooooo goood.” A few months ago, I stumbled on “Czar” by Busta Rhymes. Yeah, I know Busta is old, but Lucia and Lindsay both like ninetiesContinue reading “Brand New Czar”
You Don’t Make Gains by Eating Salad
Years ago and somewhat against my will (a story for another day), I was training for the Hartford Marathon. It was a gorgeous morning in early September, and I had just finished a nineteen-mile run. I staggered down my street, drenched in sweat, my knees and ankles aching. A neighbor was out watering his lawn—IContinue reading “You Don’t Make Gains by Eating Salad”
The Sunday Night Draper of Eternity
Lauren and I used to watch Mad Men on Sunday nights, but the show was so relentlessly dark and my moods were so blue that I tapped out about halfway through the series. A year or two later, I was reading a Q&A by sportswriter and owner of Grantland (now The Ringer) Bill Simmons inContinue reading “The Sunday Night Draper of Eternity”
How to Celebrate a Teen Boy’s Birthday: Chick Talk, Potty Humor, Wiener Jokes
The first of Graham’s buddies arrived on the dot at five pm. Lindsay and I were in the front room with the Iron Bowl on, and within two minutes, Lindsay looked at me and said, “Oh my gosh, it’s already so loud and only one of them is here.” Four more arrived within fifteen minutes,Continue reading “How to Celebrate a Teen Boy’s Birthday: Chick Talk, Potty Humor, Wiener Jokes”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 