Rule: one of a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a particular activity or sphere. –Oxford Languages I was watching teenage girls play softball at Mapleton Field. They were part of a huge annual tournament called “Fireworks and Sparkler,” where 1000+ teams converge to compete in the summertime heat. I …
Kath and I celebrated our 35th year anniversary on 7/20. We were partners until 2015, when we got married (I’m still adjusting to the word “wife.”) I started this list at year 30, and thought 35 years warranted an update. Even if you’re not part of a couple, you’re in relationship–with yourself, your bio or …
The half-rolled-up papers fell down the pull-down attic stairs. They were the plans for the newer wing of the music school, and the print was faded, too small and dull for my eyes to read. We were there on a Saturday morning, called in by the distress text: No water at the school. We stepped …
It’s how we start most days, heading off with our two canine companions to the local dog park. We know many of the dogs by name, though actually asking the owners’ names (even if we see them daily) is a whole other level of intimacy that we generally don’t attain. As we drive up we’re …
The best things I know about couples’ dynamics I learned at the dog park Read More »
I typed this from the middle seat on a Southwest Airlines flight from Denver to Tucson. The aisle seat was occupied by a muscular young man with a black t-shirt and sunglasses on, the latest iPhone in the seatback pocket. A woman in her teens (twenties? I didn’t want to stare, though she did have …
The audience of 70 people was still. Riveted. What they were witnessing is rarely seen in public. They leaned forward in their seats, trying to predict where in the world this might go. Like watching acrobats somersault through the air, there was a palpable tension: would they catch the trapeze bar, or fall? This was …
What do you want to do now? That’s what we asked each other every time there was a pause in our last game. There were 3-8 of us, depending on who showed up that day. We ranged from 6-9 years old, though our differences didn’t seem to matter, except for who was most up-to-date on …
Have you heard the parable of the seeker who wanders the world, endlessly pursuing illusory treasure, only to return home and find it hidden right there, in their own home? I remember puzzling over that story the first time I encountered it. I was in my early twenties, young enough to still have visions of Treasure Island, pirates, …
“Tis the season of joy, right?” Have you ever felt like kicking one of those carolers in the shin… as they bellow up “joy to the world!” as you wonder…what’s to feel joyful about? I have. I’ve looked around through narrowed eyes, thinking something like, “Bah. Humbug. The world is in terrible shape. Another year of …
