This is really the only personal blog-type writing I do anymore, and for those who still read this annual list, thank you for indulging my rambling thoughts. It’s tough to be a teenager in today’s world, but it’s also really, really tough to be a parent to a teenager right now. When we can’t articulate…
15 random thoughts for Charley
Truthfully, I haven’t written anything personal since last year at this very same time. But because my daughter’s birthday comes around every year, and I’m keeping this tradition alive, here are my 15 random thoughts for her 15th birthday … 1 – Welcome to the Freak Show. You are intimidated by the world, and the…
14 random thoughts for Charley
Another birthday has come and gone, and it’s so hard to believe how much you’ve grown up! It’s been a monumental year, to say the least, and years from now, when you think of 2020, here’s what I want you to know and remember (beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic) … 1 – Clean your fucking room….
12 random thoughts for Charley …
1 – Don’t leave wet towels on the floor. You roll your eyes when I ask you to pick up your towel, but it’s important. Picking up after yourself means you have respect for me, for yourself and our home. Plus, when you respect those things it shows you respect the world around you (and…
13 random thoughts for Charley
My daughter is another year older and my “random thoughts” are a little longer, so here goes … 1 – You’re a messy little smartass (and I love you). I have a problem with the cleanliness of your bedroom, this is no secret. You tell me “mom, don’t freak out when you go in my…
Dear James
Sometimes to get through difficult moments in life, you have to peel off the tough layers of your skin and get down to the heart of the matter. I have many friends and acquaintances who’ve experienced tough losses of loved ones—some years ago and some very recent, but in either case, loss has a way of changing all of us. The important thing to remember is that though it’s sometimes difficult to understand and recognize, grief is a very long and painful process. The letter below is one of the most raw and personal pieces I’ve ever written and decided to share publicly. I’m sharing it now not only as part of my own healing process, but also for those who might feel alone in their struggle with grief. I want you to know that no matter who you are, or what you’ve lost—you are not alone.
What I learned in 2017 …
There’s something about the closing of another year that turns me into somewhat of a sentimental asshole.
Believing in magic
It’s tough to believe in magic when we grow up. As adults (once we understand the sleight of hand that robs us of our imagination) the fascination in all things mystical can easily evaporate. Christmas is one of those times when, if we’re not careful, we can let all the pressure and craziness of the…
Live and unlearn
“Live and learn.” It’s the cliché we use right after we fuck something up—and, because we’re human, we use it a lot. We all know that humans often learn best by “doing.” But what happens when we realize that a lot of what we’re doing is completely ass-backwards?
11 random thoughts for Charley…
Because I’m a sappy parent, I believe in writing things down for my daughter. That’s why when she turned seven (though I wish I would have done this much earlier), I started writing her lists of “random thoughts” each year on her birthday. Some of my random thoughts are funny, some are heartfelt, and some…