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For the first time, we ordered our one-year-old son his own meal at a restaurant. It was Memorial Day. We were in Mortensen’s on the Berlin Turnpike.  Other than the fact that they were sweet potato fries, I think this is the perfect first meal.

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In an effort to hold myself accountable, I post the progress of my yearly goals at the end of each month on this blog. The following are the results through May. 1. Don’t die. I remain perfect on my most important goal. 2. Lose ten pounds. I gained a pound. Three pounds down. Seven pounds…

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This story is too strange to be believed. But it’s true. It involves two people. I will avoid using their  names in order to protect their identity, though I suspect that the woman in the story wouldn’t mind me using her name (she gave me permission to write about this), and I would take great…

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My son turns one-year-old today. Parents often lament about how quickly time passes. Children grow up so damn quickly.   This has never been the case for me. My son is twelve months old, and it’s felt like twelve months. Not in a bad way. Other than a propensity to bite my wife and an…

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Here is the plan. Find ten students, ages 11-18, who want to be writers and want to be treated like real, professional writers. As all students should. Some might want to begin their first novel. A few may have a college essay in need of completion. Perhaps there is a poet or two in the…

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It’s always fun to act self-important, grandiose, battle tested and imposed upon, but Ray Bradbury was right. Writing is not a serious business. It’s a joy and a celebration. You should be having fun with it. Ignore the authors who say ‘Oh, my God, what word? Oh, Jesus Christ…’, you know. Now, to hell with…

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Some of my students have become aware of my policy of not wearing any clothing that advertises a name brand. No stupid alligator where a breast pocket would be. No Abercrombie & Fitch splashed across my chest. No company name affixed to the pocket of my jeans. I avoid name branding at all costs, for…

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There is more to this story. It includes pre-dinner temper tantrums and other Herculean parental challenges, but here is what you need to know: A waiter spilled a glass of wine on Clara, our four year old daughter. She was drenched in red wine. She was not happy in a very four year old way.…

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One of my students arrived to school on Friday with a business card in his hand. “I booked you a speaking gig,” he told me and handed me the business card with the name of a manager of a Barnes & Noble bookstore where I have never spoken before. “What?” I asked. “Are you making…

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I have never seen a child love a sibling more than my daughter loves her brother. It’s truly remarkable. Clara routinely approaches strangers in restaurants, parks and stores to tell them about her little brother. This is even more surprising given that the first time she met Charlie and realized he was a boy, she…

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