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In case you didn’t hear, a terrible crime has been perpetrated in Australia:   The theft of a Big Bird costume from the Sesame Street Circus Spectacular.   In fairness, the costume is valued at $160,000, so it’s a serious crime, but I bet the three people charged with the theft didn’t know the value…

Elysha and I saw this sign in a shop window while browsing on Martha’s Vineyard last weekend. I know this is going to seem like a tiny thing, but it’s not: The word “Barely” transforms an otherwise innocuous message into something so much more. The word “Barely” accomplishes so much: 1. It makes the sign…

Dr. Brytney Cobia treats Covid-19 patients at the Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, a state that ranks last in the US in fully vaccinated adults. In a recent Facebook post, she shares how willing people are to get vaccinated after watching an unvaccinated member of their family die from COVID-19. She wrote: I’ve made a LOT of…

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…