More than a decade ago, a reader accused me of being materialistic after I wrote about my lack of a favorite number. The reader specifically criticized me for saying that…

Artist Rene Magritte once said his goal was to “breathe new life into the way we look at ordinary things around us.” Photographer Sally Mann said it’s always been her…

When I was a kid, my brothers, sisters, and friends rode our bikes all over town. Miles and miles and miles a day. Parents never had any idea of our…

I fully support New York's new statewide ban on cellphones during school hours.Phones are not necessary in school.I know that many students and even parents for whom the phone has…

A scene between two characters on the television show "The Bear" that rings so true for me about managing pressure: Chef Tina asks: How do you get rid of it…

From 1994 through 1999, I attended college full-time. First, I attended Manchester Community College, followed by Trinity College and St. Joshpeph's University simultaneously, where I earned degrees in English and…

I'm in the letter-writing business. From 2018 through 2023, I attempted (and succeeded) in writing at least 100 physical letters every year. Since 2023, I've increased my goal to 150,…

I'm in a single-use restroom. The door is locked.  Someone on the outside jiggles the handle to see if it's locked.  It's locked.  Then comes an act of utter stupidity:…

I'm a fan of nostalgia. The closer the past remains to me, the more my life seems to be connected from beginning to end. I also love reminders of bygone…

I'm teaching about the vinculum. "What is the line that separates the numerator and denominator?" I ask my class. No one knows. Most people don't know. You probably didn't know.…