Archive for July 2021

Norman Bridwell, author of Clifford the Big Red Dog, lived in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard until his death in 2014. Since his death, his wife, Norma, has kept his memory alive with this front-door tribute to his two most famous characters, Emily Elizabeth and Clifford. Lovely. Right? I’m never going to die – obviously –…

Elysha has claimed that I can be “oppressively optimistic” at times. I’ve also been known to make certain people’s eyes roll when energetically asserting that “Everything’s going to be great!” “I’m fantastic.” “Fear not! All will be well.” Elysha isn’t entirely wrong, of course. I most definitely lean toward optimism in most things. But perhaps…

On Sunday night, a fan in the stands at Yankee Stadium hit Boston Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo in the back with a baseball. As a Yankees fan, I certainly understand the sentiment, but I don’t support the decision. I think that baseball pitchers who throw at hitters are damn cowards. Throwing a ball…

People are weird. People are crazy. People obsess over things, worry about things, and develop rituals around things that baffle and confuse the people around them. It’s okay. As long as you’re not hurting anyone, it’s really okay. But here’s my advice: Own your crazy. Don’t deny it. Don’t defend it. Don’t attempt to mitigate…

America is experiencing a dearth of adults in positions of leadership. In the place of serious-minded grown ups who know a lot, constantly seek to know more, and place the needs of their constituents ahead of their own electoral and financial needs, we have infantile frat boys like Ron DeSantis running a state like Florida.…

Sitting at dinner, waiting for our meal to arrive, Charlie raises his fork and knife and says, “In a battle, which one do you choose?” Do you know how many times I’ve wondered this very thing myself? Thousands. At last I have someone to talk to about it. This is one of the many things…

Yesterday, during our sailing lesson, Elysha and I watched as an empty sailboat passed by. The pilot was in the water behind the boat, cooling off and hidden from us by the hull. “It’s like the Mary Celeste,” I joked, then quickly added, “Only Clara would get that joke.” But Elysha, who was piloting our…

Elysha and I celebrate 15 years of marriage today. When I think about our marriage, I often find myself hoping that Clara and Charlie someday experience the same happiness and love that I have enjoyed over the last 15 years. Specifically: Marrying someone who you still can’t quite believe chose to marry you Enjoying 15…

Elysha and I returned to New York City on Saturday night to see Springsteen on Broadway. Before the pandemic, I was in the city a couple times per month, but it’s been more than 16 months since I set foot in The Big Apple. Elysha and I saw Jagged Little Pill on Broadway in mid…

I found one of these Uno cards – a reverse – in Charlie’s pocket. “Why are you carrying around an uno card?” I asked him. “In case a bully says something mean to me,” he said. “I’ll just reverse it on him.” After confirming that this was a hypothetical situation and that he wasn’t actually…