If you know my family history, you’re aware I’ve only been a parent since 2018. Well, I was a stepdad until 2023, when I adopted my wife’s daughter Lauren, making it legally, in the words of the judge who signed the paperwork and presided over the lovely ceremony that took place in the courtroom, as […]
I’m substituting today in a sophomore English classs. In preparation for reading John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, we’re watching a video on the history of pearls. While the students watch and fill out a study guide, I have some time to myself. Happily, these kids are terrific, so I can do some writing. And so here we […]
As you may know, I recently performed the wedding of my daughter and newly minted son-in-law. It was an honor and a privilege and a blessing not just to be a part of the wedding, but to be allowed to speak from the heart as they started their voyage through life together. I was told […]
I retired from full-time teaching the minute I could. In fact, I kind of retired a couple months before I technically could by burning sick and personal days. But that had nothing to do with a lack of love for the job. Getting to know and love my students was a joy that never faded […]
If you are one of the handful of folks who read my blog, you know I’ve been sharing short stories for the last several weeks. I’ve shared all I have for the moment. I’m working on one, but it’s still quite early in the pen-and-paper stage. The story is complex enough in my mind that […]
I don’t know about you, but growing older has not been one of my favorite things. My knees are creaky and crunchy and cranky a lot of the time. If I need to get on the floor, I have to have a plan for getting up, like a nearby couch or bed to use as […]
I’m not sure if I’m unique in this, but I see autumn, along with its counterpart, spring, as less seasons themselves and more as transitions leading to the “main” seasons of summer and winter. I guess I feel this way because they are less extreme than the times they lead into. Fall ushers in the […]
“So, when the journey gets long,Just know that you are loved,There is light up above, And the joy is always enough.Bubbles up.” “Bubbles Up”, by Jimmy Buffett The deaths of celebrities don’t usually have a deep effect on me. I’ll usually say, “Aww…”, discuss some memory I have of their career, and go on about […]
My time as a full-tme teacher ended last May. It was definitely bittersweet. Sorry for the cliche, but it is one for a reason. I continue to have moments that tug at my heart, making me wonder if I quit too soon. After all, I still love being with the kids and I loved having […]
Something happened on my way to having extra time on my hands when I retired. It feels like everything happened. Everything but having extra time, that is. At least until quite recently. Between giving more time to things I was already doing and picking up activities I hadn’t been doing, I feel like I’m at […]