“Can I pick her up?” I asked through the translator. “Yes, of course,” replied the petite Spanish nun by my side, “but be warned, she will cry when you put her down.” She was so tiny. The size of a …
He’s a Jerk, and He Doesn’t Deserve You
A close friend of mine in college had a habit of finding the wrong guy. She’d wonder what was wrong with her. Why he didn’t like her the way she liked him. The same pattern of chasing the wrong guy carried …
I Thought I Made My Grandfather Die
When I was a child I had a pet rabbit named Lightning, one of a succession of rabbits. One was run over by a car. Dad didn’t tell me until I was twenty-three. He always said, “I dunno, he just …
4 Ways I Responded to My Daughter Turning Twelve
One meaning for the name McKenna is “Out of The Fire.” This is the name I chose for my daughter. Being twelve is the current fire I’m trying to help her get to the other side of. This age is …
Dissed and Dismissed
I flew to Philadelphia, then took the Acela Express to New York City. I usually write when I am traveling. On this trip I watched. At my airport gate there was a slight young brunette with 5-inch heels and skinny …
4 Lessons I’ve Learned From My Dog
Fiona is 9 years old. She’s my adopted puppy child. She was two when Liz and I started dating and five when we got married. I missed those early formative years (which is why she’s so misbehaved now), but I’ve …
Stop Asking When We’re Going to Have Kids
This is a public service announcement. Call it a good deed if you’d like. Here we go: PLEASE STOP ASKING MARRIED COUPLES WITHOUT CHILDREN WHEN THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE KIDS. I’m begging you. Pleading. I’m on my knees. My wife …
Beware the Quicksand
There are lots of nice folks in the world who care about other people and are willing to get involved and lend a helping hand in times of trial. Here is a parable about those people. An explorer walking in …
Old Girls Network
Dear older ladies, First off, do not be offended—by “older” I mean older than me and my friends—not old. Trust me, I’ve been well-trained by my mother that old is at least 10 years older than your current age. “I just …
Kindergarten Sucks
Blonde hair poured over the top of the purple, floral-covered backpack that swallowed up most of the rest of her, until her legs peeked out from the skirt she had laid out with precision the night before. This would be …