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NOT ENOUGH TOMORROWS
February 4, 2020
Last week, my childhood best friend died – suddenly and unexpectedly. Amidst the grief, I’ve also felt a lot of guilt these past few days. Guilt for lazily not returning his last phone call. Guilt for being a less attentive friend to him than he was to me. Guilt for not making time.
IF I WAS THE NRA’S PR GUY…
August 5, 2019
Alternate title: “Why I’ll Never Be the NRA’s PR Guy.”
THE E-NOTE
May 28, 2019
Today would have been my late mother-in-law’s 71st birthday. She’s been gone for 6+ months now and she’s still sorely missed.
But why dwell on sadness when you have a lifetime of humor to look back on? I’m going to honor her memory here by sharing my favorite personal story. To those who didn’t know Lori, you can be sure the conversation you’re about to read was 100% on brand for her. While this took place almost 20 years ago, it’s so seared in my memory that this is pretty close to verbatim
NORDONIA’S BIG ISSUE
April 15, 2019
On May 7, my local school district, Nordonia Hills, will make its second attempt to pass Issue 3, its first levy since 2011. It’s been a contentious issue in the community and failed by a razor thin margin in November. I support the levy, just as I did last fall, and I hope my comments here might persuade a few of my fence-sitting neighbors to do the same.
UPDATE (May 7, 2019): Issue 3 passed with nearly 60% of the vote. I’m proud of my neighbors for stepping up and demonstrating their pride for the community and our kids.
HIGH STANDARDS
April 11, 2019
My daughter took her first round of standardized tests last fall – the ones that are apparently the singular determining factor whether or not she passes on to fourth grade. Never mind her social skills. Never mind her quarterly report cards. Never mind her teacher’s own opinions on her intelligence, maturity or growth. It was this test or bust.
And she failed. Spectacularly.
A MIGHTY FOUR
October 4, 2018
(A letter to Emilia on her 4th birthday … to be read on her 18th.)
You’re a big kid now!
Every day, your world expands ever so slightly and, more importantly, becomes a bit more accessible. Watching you jump into every new experience with unrestrained enthusiasm – learning, experimenting, exploring – is a joy to watch. You’re curious and fearless. Your carefree spirit and zest for life are infectious.
A CHIEF CONCERN
April 7, 2018
Earlier this year, the Cleveland Indians announced that the 2018 season will be the last for the Chief Wahoo logo.
And, hoo boy, are people pissed.
PRINCIPLES VS. PROFITABILITY
February 27, 2018
Recently, Delta Airlines (which is based in Atlanta) decided to end a travel discount program for NRA members. In response the GOP-controlled legislature in Georgia threatened to eliminate a fuel tax break it gives to the company. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, a frontrunner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, tweeted, “I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA. Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back.”
UNCLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
December 2, 2017
I’ve been trying and failing for several months to post my feelings about the state of healthcare in the U.S. (I favor universal coverage, if you can believe it). I’ve started and stopped close to a dozen times.
FROM PRODUCE AISLE TO PARENTHOOD
November 1, 2017
I never answer calls from unknown numbers. But this time, for some reason, I did.
FLAG ON THE PLAY
September 28, 2017
“I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag; I know that I am a black man in a white world.” – Jackie Robinson
I’ve made it pretty clear that I support the movement by professional athletes to take a silent knee during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. Without delving too deeply into the psychology behind it (lots more on that in a moment), I simply see no harm in it.
HERITAGE VS. HISTORY
August 17, 2017
“Heritage” and “History” are not interchangeable terms.
We study history. We learn from it. And, hopefully, we use what it teaches us to form a better, more productive future.
LESS NUTS THAN USUAL
July 18, 2017
I have cancer.
Man, that’s no easier to write now than it was to think about when I got my first preliminary diagnosis more than a month ago.
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