Suddenly…
Hey, do you know that feeling of hitching up a long skirt so you don’t fall on your face when walking upstairs, and then you immediately become a wretched yet
Love and Time
Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the
SRFS UP
Vanity plates are so….vain. And while I myself AM vain, I see no need to broadcast my vanity to cars idling in back of me. So when my lease ended
Oh How Lovely Was the Morning
Early Monday morning I was taking a shower and listening to music before leaving for campus. My wireless speaker was perched on the bathroom windowsill, and while I was blow
Do Your Work
You ever hear of Dean Briggs? I didn’t, until recently. Great quote by him, reminding us that it is not our leisure that brings us satisfaction and happiness, but our
How to Prove You’re Not an Idiot
Mary needs to get into a secure website. Computer: Good evening. Prove you’re not a robot. Me: But YOU’RE a robot. C: That’s how I’ll know if you’re one of
Lil’ Things Part II
(Thank you for asking about my book signings. I’m just too busy, so it won’t happen this fall). There was this great day when I was a high school English
Lil’ Things Part I
In the thirty years during which I was a high school English teacher, there were so many memorable days. Not the kind you would think, like parties, or awards. More
Hope Your Road is a Long One
Many thanks to my good friend Susan Cain, who emailed me and reminded me of how much I have always loved the poem “Ithaka” by C.P. Cavafy. I needed that
KEVIN!
I like the scene in the movie “Home Alone” when Kevin is walking home with his groceries, and the bottom rips out of the grocery bag, spilling the groceries on
Life is No Brief Candle
I re-read Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw this past weekend, and in my notes was this beautiful quote by Shaw himself. Happy Labor Day Monday, let’s move to Spooky Season,
Sword Fight
Three equal length boxes arrived at the house last week. Narrow, about three feet long. I pondered. Golf clubs? They were addressed to my oldest, so I texted him from
Thoughts on Purpose
Yes, I’m going to plagiarize again. Gimme a break, my semester is starting, and I’m up to my neck in clerical tasks. So here is a lovely quote from the
5 Ugly Truths
Thank you to Mark Manson, the current reigning king of not giving a f***, for these five truths that he says are hard to hear: 2. We try things. Some
Hoowah
The most hate mail I ever received as an op-ed writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer was when I said I liked the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. Yowza, did I get
Mas Jim
Busy week. Here’s another gem from my main man Jim Rohn: Become a ghost for six months. Make everything your fault. Find the beast within you. Throw yourself into the
You Had to Be There
My son and I went out for dinner and a horror flick last week. I guess I embarrassed him at the hibachi restaurant because I asked the server if we
It’s Hot
I recently had an intellectual discussion with a colleague concerning the recent heat wave and its connection to global warming, and he was so fascinated with my scientific acumen that
More Soop For You
I am honored to have another story in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series that is available on all outlets today. Unfortunately, owing to my complete hopelessness and lack
Sound of Freedom
(While I will not remove what I say in this post about the movie “Barbie,” I will, however, concede that for some reason I can’t fathom, it’s trending, and people
AI
Most accurate redundancy ever recorded in human history: Cast of “The View” discussing artificial intelligence.
Bonding Time
My 21-year old son had had a sore throat for a few days, and Friday morning he miraculously agreed not only to get checked out so that we could rule