Today is just another day. But somehow it’s not. It’s new. With a single strike we begin again. It’s a type of magic, it is. To come around to the same place. But it’s not the same place. And we ourselves have changed. Though we sense something familiar. We mustn’t let that weigh. Not more […]

Old things often take on new meaning. Like Christmas. It was one thing when I was a kid. It became something else as an adult. I couldn’t fall asleep on Christmas Eve. I can’t stay awake now. My favorite part about Christmas today is seeing the people that I love happy. To me, it’s peace. […]

Throughout my life I have wanted to be many things. I thought I’d be a dentist when I was growing up. Someone suggested it I think because I liked pulling my own teeth. Turns out my son has the same talent. But I didn’t become a dentist. Flossing regularly has been a challenge in itself. […]

I remember it snowing a lot when I was a kid. We’d get feet of snow sometimes. The plows would come through and clear the parking lot of St. James Lutheran Church. I lived across the street. Next to my Grandma Marge who both attended and cleaned the church that was attached to the parking […]

I lied to someone the other day. Thankfully I was wearing fire retardant slacks. They asked me if I had seen their email. I had. Though I hadn’t read it yet. It was no more than a subject line in my inbox. It’s a stupid thing to lie about, isn’t it? I could have said […]

Studying together for the geography bee that he tried to avoid. (He’s enjoying it now of course.) Trying to be okay with her novice cartwheels in the family room. (She’s still working on sticking the landing.) The curdling scream of a brother scared by his sister. (His voice will get deeper someday.) A loaned teddy bear […]

When was the last time you were in the woods when it snowed. Or saw the sky from underneath a low branch. Was it like waves hitting the shore. Or your child coming close. Was it a hot shower. Or drinking away thirst. These beautiful moments. They surround us. Even when we don’t notice them. […]

Before Meredith and I had children we had each other. And as young couples do we made a big deal out of a great many things. Like getting a Christmas tree. Early in our marriage we decided to take a ride out to a place out on the edge of town. I don’t remember the […]

When men march to war they stand in straight lines. With their shirts tucked in to their pants. And their shoes on properly. They swing their arms at the same time. And some of them ride horses. It’s a big deal and everybody comes out to see. The bystanders clap their hands and wave handkerchiefs. […]