Not because my life has always been easy, but because it has sometimes been hard. Not because I always get my way, but because I often don’t. Not because I have everything I want, but because I don’t need everything. Not because I have no fear, but because some things should frighten me. Not because […]
Category: Confessions of.a Do-Gooder
Happily BUZZ FED on Buzzfeed Quizzes
If you can barely navigate 2 minutes in Facebook before succumbing to the temptation of taking a ridiculous, tantalizing quiz that promises to reveal what cheese you are (Gouda), what children’s book character you are (Curious George), and what state you should really live in (West Virginia? What?!) then you, like me, are BUZZ FED. […]
The Most Fearsome Creatures I Never Want to Meet (Again)
Yesterday, as I ran through the woods, I thought of Bill Watterson’s precocious and uproariously funny 6-year old cartoon philosopher, Calvin, who once said to Hobbes, “That’s the problem with nature, something’s always stinging you or oozing mucous all over you. Let’s go and watch TV.” I run, hike, bike and love The Great Outdoors, so […]
The Homeless Man’s Gift To My Son
Years ago, I took my sons to a baseball game and afterwards, as we walked to our car, my sons, who were about 8 and 12, saw a man sitting on the curb. There was a large plastic bag with what looked like clothing and other belongings lying beside him, and he had placed a […]
Running Marathons: Madness or Marvelous?
On Sunday, I ran my 16th Marine Corps Marathon. Good Lord. Why? I have neither running talent nor youth working in my favor. In fact, I defy the medical establishment to find a single fast twitch fiber in my leg muscles. And yet, with the exception of 2012, I have run the Marine Corps […]
Would You Flinch?
Now that I’ve had a few days to reflect on the ebola hysteria, I am glad that our national case of mass temporary insanity appears to have subsided. I don’t want to be the judge of all those who so readily jumped on the bandwagon to CLOSE BORDERS/BAN FLIGHTS and BANISH ANYONE WHO BARFS IN […]
Creature Comfort
One of my all-time favorite Disney movie characters is Nana, the “nursemaid” from Peter Pan. Nana was a big shaggy Newfoundland that fantastically and frantically followed the Darling children around, picking up after them, protecting them from hidden house dangers, and trying to make sure they took their medicine at bedtime. As a child, I […]
Creature Comfort
One of my all-time favorite Disney movie characters is Nana, the “nursemaid” from Peter Pan. Nana was a big shaggy Newfoundland that fantastically and frantically followed the Darling children around, picking up after them, protecting them from hidden house dangers, and trying to make sure they took their medicine at bedtime. As a child, I […]
Close Encounters of the Awkward Kind
In my humble life, I have come surprisingly close to lots of famous people, including Presidents, politicians, movie stars, sports heroes, and outlaws. When I say close, I mean I was in close verbal or physical proximity, but actually didn’t meet them. However, some of my brushes with famous people have been embarrassing. Here […]
When Life Gives You Lemonade, Quit Begging For Lemons
About ten years ago, I received a disturbing letter in the mail. I didn’t recognize the name of the sender, but because the salutation said “Dear Member of Blah-Dee-Blah Parish,” I understood this to be a form letter sent to everyone at the very large Blah-Dee-Blah Parish, of which I was a member. Here is […]