The main problem with getting a new refrigerator is that, well, you have to get a new refrigerator. It’s an appliance I rarely consider and truly only think about when it doesn’t work properly. When it came time to replace our first refrigerator, it brought on the expected annoyances of such a purchase, and one that was completely unexpected. Continue reading →
My dear friend Jim and I have shared many experiences that deepened our friendship. Some were arguments and debates, some moments epiphany, some the simple joy of having a good time, and once (just once) it was killing something together. Continue reading →
I recently received one of those phone calls you are never prepared for. It concerned a loved on and one word that drove other thoughts from my mind. I heard the phrase “. . . may have Cancer,” and nearly shut down. I suddenly felt as if I was barely grasping a flimsy handhold on a fast-moving train. I also oddly found myself thinking of my friend Terry and of a cookie I once thought he forced me to eat. Continue reading →
I spent an evening writing for this site one night and hit the Publish button. I have the editor set up to check for spelling and whatnot (even though spell check has failed me before). I resolved the glaring errors until I came upon one that completely surprised me. I used the word “purchase” and the Proofreader flagged it for being a “complex idea.” Wait, what? Continue reading →
When Chrisie and I planned (okay, when Chrisie and her mom planned) our wedding, we placed a high priority on saving money wherever possible. One of the easiest places to save money was the invitations. I knew my way around a computer and had done quite a bit of design work for others and had a good relationship with a local print shop. We wanted fairly simple invitations, so it seemed like a slam dunk. Unfortunately, we forgot I was a geek before geeks were cool and was so bad at sports that I shouldn’t have even used a sports analogy. Continue reading →
My father-in-law takes most of his family to one Tennessee Titans game each year (okay, actually, he’s taken us twice in the past two years, but I’m hoping it’s a regular tradition). This year, we attended the Redskins-Titans game. It was a terrible, terrible game. But there was one moment that made all the interceptions, bad decisions, and, oh, losing the game, worth being there. That one moment is an experience for which I am extremely grateful and completely overshadows the rest of the afternoon. Continue reading →
I’ve been mistaken for someone else several times (as I’m sure most people experience at some point in their lives). Occasionally it happened on the phone and more often in person. The thing about being mistaken for someone else in person is that you’re actually there while someone thinks you are another person altogether. This causes all sorts of awkwardness, not to mention embarrassment. Again this is something I’m sure everyone experiences to some extent, but I have a couple of instances that, um, stand out. Continue reading →
My parents taught me by example to offer assistance whenever someone needed it and we were able to give it. They also taught me that doing good should be its own reward and not to expect (or sometimes accept) any other type. I learned to hold doors, carry groceries, and help people move. I now find great joy in helping others. Most of the time, people are appreciative and express some type of thanks when I offer to help. Most of the time. Continue reading →
It was a beautiful afternoon as my dad and I returned home during my summer between sixth and seventh grade. When we turned on our street, we noticed a car parked just off the asphalt. A man and his daughter were walking away from it a little way up the road. As we drew closer, I realized I knew the girl. What I didn’t realize was that Dad was about to teach me an important lesson, one it would take me years to fully understand. Continue reading →
My dad is fond of saying, “Eccentricity runs in your mother’s family.” This is never more obvious than at Thanksgiving when our family gathering rotates between my parents’ house and my two uncles’ (on Mom’s side) houses. The discussions are always lively, interesting, and sometimes surreal. That’s why I worried as my wife and I planned to spend the first Thanksgiving after we married with my family. Continue reading →
Stories Now Told