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”
Tag Archives: Sons
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)”
2023 Was a Mood
I’ve been listening to a podcast about Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the late savant of the Wu Tang Clan. That turned me on to some ODB music I hadn’t heard before. I sent a YouTube link to Grant of a song I particularly liked (“Protect ya Neck 2 the Zoo,” in case you were wondering). IContinue reading “2023 Was a Mood”
Parting Is Not Sweet Sorrow
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”
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”
Remembering a Cousin Lost at Pearl Harbor
When he was born, we named our oldest son Grant Derby Laws. Grant became the seventh generation of oldest sons in my family with the middle name Derby. The first was William Derby Johnson, son of Ezekiel Johnson of Grafton, Massachusetts. When he was sixteen years old, William’s grandson Carl Spencer Johnson lied about hisContinue reading “Remembering a Cousin Lost at Pearl Harbor”
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”
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”
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”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 