At the eight-hundred-meter mark, Graham was in seventh place and on pace for a 4:48-mile finish. We were at the New Balance world headquarters on one of the nicest indoor tracks in the world—in fact, the NCAA indoor national championship will be held there in 2024. Graham had qualified for the race eighth out ofContinue reading “Report from New Balance Headquarters”
Tag Archives: Marriage
Snowman Got His Own Fire
We decorated gingerbread houses last night. Of course, being the Laws, we cannot just decorate gingerbread houses—we must compete. So for days, we had agreed that we would have boys versus girls, that is, Graham and me versus Lauren, Lucia, and Lindsay. Graham, who never lacks for self-confidence, said the whole week, “Obviously, we’re gonnaContinue reading “Snowman Got His Own Fire”
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”
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”
Eulogy for Levi Martin
On December 18, 2022, Dave Martin posted to a group chat we are part of that they had lost their son Levi to suicide. I went to the Martins’ house to be with them and stayed several hours through police interviews, the medical examiners, and family and friends showing up. I returned the next nightContinue reading “Eulogy for Levi Martin”
Just Say No to Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Last winter, we were driving Graham home from Plymouth when he asked, “What’s for dinner?” It was dark and cold, and route 44 stretched out like a black ribbon ahead of us. “Chicken pot pie soup,” Lauren said. “Chicken pot pie?” said Graham. “Soup,” said Lauren. “Chicken pot pie soup.” “What is that?” I said.Continue reading “Just Say No to Chicken Pot Pie Soup”
I Am Here for All the Healing
In my last job, I traveled an average of once a week, and in my present job, I travel almost monthly now. I consider myself expert—I am TSA precheck and also part of Clear, I have earbuds and a charging cord ready for all Delta flights, I pack lean and can fit everything into aContinue reading “I Am Here for All the Healing”
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”
Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and Me: The Observer Effect
In physics, scientists have to account for the observer effect—that is, the observation of something fundamentally changes its state. This is particularly important in the study of quantum mechanics. A common example for us lay people is taking a tire pressure—doing so reduces the tire’s pressure. Likewise, in physics, observing non-luminous material typically requires theContinue reading “Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and Me: The Observer Effect”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 