My 17th birthday party remains in my memory as one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had. I invited a handful of girlfriends to my house to celebrate with me and we feasted on a shrimp and rice gumbo dish that my mother had made for us to enjoy after she departed for the … Continue reading At 17
Category: Boys
CivMix Recap – January ‘22 edition
There’s nothing like looking back on a couple of months of writing to remind me of the active life I lead. Check out the links below for ideas and inspiration for your own recreational activities. Winter would be a wonderful season to hike up Overlook Mountain - no rattlesnakes and views for miles. Successfully navigating … Continue reading CivMix Recap – January ‘22 edition
The joys of parenting
Often, it seems, at least in dysfunctional families, that folks approach parenting with the goal of being the antithesis of their own parents. The less similar to the preceding generation we are, the better things are for all involved. Trust me. My parenting goals were few, beyond raising good humans. Of course, I hoped my … Continue reading The joys of parenting
Your mother never was one
Recently, I've been on a Lumineers kick and the title of this post comes from their song, Donna. It wasn’t the first lyric in the song that caught my ear, but it was the one that prompted me to write it down. Let’s just say it resonated. I’ve written, and even publicly spoken, about finding … Continue reading Your mother never was one
Je me souviens
Last week’s trip to Montreal with my sons was, I think, the 7th or 8th time I’ve been there. It’s been quite some time, though, since I’ve gone to Montreal without an agenda in place. The most recent occasions have been to make use of the airport, see a concert, and chaperone a middle school … Continue reading Je me souviens
Giving thanks for simple pleasures
It seems that Thanksgiving has changed in so many ways since I was a child and taught about Pilgrims and “Indians.” Knowing what I know now about the atrocities perpetrated by whites against Native Americans has certainly diminished the joy of the holiday for many, including myself. How does one celebrate the colonialization of the … Continue reading Giving thanks for simple pleasures
Buying happiness
I’ve got news for you...despite what you may have heard, money can, in fact, buy happiness. At least for me it can when it comes in the form of travel reservations. In the last couple of months I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what makes me happy and what I’ve concluded is this … Continue reading Buying happiness





