The Patriot League cross country meet was last Saturday. Graham ran varsity, as he had all season; it was a warm, clear October day, temperatures rising to almost eighty degrees. Graham’s goal was to run the 5k in 18:30. He ran 19:06 and finished fifth on his team—he normally finishes third. Naturally, this led toContinue reading “One Peanut Butter Sandwich Away”
Tag Archives: Family
More Adulting through Car Trouble
A few weeks ago, Grant called me in the middle of the work day. “Dad, I want you to know that I’m doing real adulting here.” “That’s good.” “I went out to my car this morning and it wouldn’t start. I realized it was out of gas. Instead of calling you and f-bombing everything andContinue reading “More Adulting through Car Trouble”
Halloween Special: The Gallery of Terror
I was getting ready to write a post in which I included some screenshots from my text messages, and I realized that, for the uninitiated, they might be confusing. One of the people writing is “Post Malone,” and another is “Robert Rage,” and my dear readers might wonder who those are. At one point, weContinue reading “Halloween Special: The Gallery of Terror”
My Own At-Home Civil War Surgery
I took Dobby for a Sunday hike before it got too rainy. I was clothed appropriately for the woods–boots, jeans, and long-sleeved sweatshirt. Nevertheless, later that morning, I scratched an itch on my back, felt a lump, checked it in the mirror, and saw an embedded tick. You probably know that I have had LymeContinue reading “My Own At-Home Civil War Surgery”
Bonus Post: Let’s Give Credit Where It Is Due
The day after I posted about Lil Pebis, the kids caught on to details of the story that I hadn’t regarded as terribly significant. First, we got this text from Lindsay over the family group chat (which, yes, is called The Goons): So credit to Lindsay for parenting Graham. On a related note, Silver LakeContinue reading “Bonus Post: Let’s Give Credit Where It Is Due”
Adulting through Car Trouble
Lauren was on the road Saturday to and from Grant’s game. She called me at one point from the wilds of western New York. “Lindsay called me,” she said. “They’re going to Carson’s house in Athens but the Corolla can’t detect the key anymore. That’s just the key fob, right?” “Probably,” I said. “You usuallyContinue reading “Adulting through Car Trouble”
Straight Outta the Burbs
I confess we basically don’t parent Graham. For a few days, he’s been talking about how he is killing it in this sim game called Music Wars Rock Star. So we went out to dinner, and I got him to tell me all about it. You create a character who is a rapper or singer,Continue reading “Straight Outta the Burbs”
Something Has Happened to You
This is the opening section of a novel draft I have just completed. It’s a mix of horror and suspense. What scared me most as a kid were ordinary things I didn’t understand, and I spent a lot of time afraid—afraid of parents dying, being hit by hurricanes, becoming a victim of violent crime orContinue reading “Something Has Happened to You”
Do Your Part to Slow the Spread of It
Do your part: help slow the spread of it by washing your hands thoroughly. Use hot water, apply soap, and rub hands together vigorously while singing “Happy Birthday.” Rinse hands in hot water. Employees are required to wash hands as prescribed before returning to work. Disinfecting wipes that kill it are provided so that youContinue reading “Do Your Part to Slow the Spread of It”
The Friendship Quilt
This is a deceptively simple fictional rendering of a story in my family history. It’s meant to be coupled with the “The Littlest Nurse,” and then for further perspectives, you can learn far more at my page on Sadie Bushman. You might wish to read the actual primary sources, as well. It’s worthwhile to thinkContinue reading “The Friendship Quilt”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 