Yesterday I wrote that in 43 years, I’d only been away from home on Christmas four times. It was just a given that the family spent time together on that holiday. Even after they divorced, Mom and Dad set aside their differences on the big day, spending that time together for my brother and I. […]
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part IX: Home, and family, is where the heart is Read More »
Tis the season … for presents. Let’s be honest, we all love them, even if they aren’t the true meaning of Christmas. In Part V, I’m writing about my 10 favorite Christmas gifts: No. 1 (1988): Our first Nintendo I’ve written about this in a previous blog. The NES was THE gift of 1988. If
Twelve Days of Christmas, Part V: My top 10 Christmas gifts Read More »
I don’t know much about my Dad’s mother. I only remember visiting her a few times, and many of the stories aren’t heart-warming. When I interviewed my old man in the months leading up to his death, I did ask him about Grandma. He said she was always a little odd and did not have
Twelve days of Christmas, Part I: The year Grandma stayed with us Read More »
A little more than two years ago, my wife and I finally took the plunge. After years of renting an apartment and duplex in Overland Park, we decided it was time to buy our own home. During the process of finding a new home in Topeka, Shana spent hours upon hours searching for the perfect
Home – and an in-depth inspection – is where the heart is. Thank you, Larry and Dads Read More »
My last exchange with Sharon Moon was classic Sharon: A little bit a wicked humor, and a little bit of kindness. Responding to a Facebook post about the original version of the movie “It” and how the collection of clown figurines she kept in her home scared the hell out of me as a 13-year-old,
Webb: Saying goodbye to my second mom Read More »
I always looked forward to this moment, even if it came on a path I never expected (being a stepfather). There are few things more rewarding than being a dad, and as I’ve discovered in the last three-plus years, that word entails much more than anything biological. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect is passing on
Words of wisdom for my stepson on graduation day Read More »
Things change so quickly. I know, I know. Of course, they do. That’s life. But that hit me today as I sat alone for a few quiet, peaceful minutes surveying the small town I spent much of my life in. As I looked at an aging park across the street to the west, I thought,
Change, and life, is good Read More »
Last Christmas was the first time I’d been at home for the holidays since 2006. That alone made it the best Christmas in years. But what really made that day, as well as Christmas Eve, special was the beginning of a relationship that has changed my life for the better. At that point, the girlfriend
How to treat the ladies: Tis the season for love Read More »
