My 2nd Liebster Award
This one comes courtesy of my good friend KJ Waters. KJ is the author of the upcoming mystery Stealing Time. The Liebster is an informal award given to a blogger/writer as a sign of admiration and it comes with a significant cash award. KJ has promised me that my check is in the mail. 1 […]
A Christmas Present
Mary Katherine was petrified and she wasn’t going anywhere. “Mary Katherine, your team needs you, come on sweetheart, I know you can do this.” She shook her head no. She was wringing her hands and beads of sweat had bubbled up on her forehead and upper lip. Yet I was certain that if she would […]
Thankful
For my beautiful wife of 25 years. For my two kids, even though they’re both presently teenagers and at times bear more resemblance to the Martian visitors in Mars Attacks! Both of them have the ability to be kind, understanding, courteous and thankful–just not on the same day. For my extended family. For my many […]
15
Father and son, both shirtless, we stood in front of the mirror, razors in hand. He carefully mimicked my actions as we applied a thin sheen of Gillette’s best before he hefted the razor suspiciously. “You don’t need to rush this,” I offered. “These blades may be incredibly thin but they’re unimaginably sharp. So […]
Kid Stuff
This essay originally appeared in the September 2002 issue of Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine The Beechcraft King Air 200 has shut down; the passengers disembarked and as the pilots are walking away I whisper into my 4-year-old son’s ear “Wave at the pilots”. It works like a charm. One of the pilots walks […]
Bits of Glass
I recently picked up one of my favorite books from my childhood, Edward Jablonski’s Flying Fortress. It’s a highly researched and detailed account of the brave American airmen that flew B-17 bombers during World War 2. I can remember devouring that book in fifth grade and hoping that one day I would also be […]
Bits of Glass
I recently picked up one of my favorite books from my childhood, Edward Jablonski’s Flying Fortress. It’s a highly researched and detailed account of the brave American airmen that flew B-17 bombers during World War 2. I can remember devouring that book in fifth grade and hoping that one day I would also be […]
The Good Lady Upstairs
Bonnie, our faithful and fearless Jack Russell Terrier was growling, a deep threatening growl that meant business. She was determined not to let this intruder near our bed. The hair on the back of her neck spiked upward and her teeth were bared. She was this close to leaping on and ripping into this intruder. […]
Do you hear that?
Those were foot-steps. No question about it. Even in the darkness I could see the fright on my wife’s face. She threw the blanket over her and clutched me like never before, the flesh on my shoulders proving no match for her recently manicured nails. Someone was walking on the third floor of my […]
Breakfast Anyone?
Breakfast. I love cooking breakfast. Muffins, pancakes, waffles with Vermont maple syrup, quiches, yogurt and fresh fruit parfaits, freshly squeezed orange and apple juice, fruit smoothies, bacon and eggs, buttermilk biscuits, scrambled eggs with cheese and herbs; I could keep going but I think you get the idea. My kids used to happily sit […]