On this day last year, after 63 years of marriage, my dad kissed his high school sweetheart goodbye. By the kindness of God, Beck and I were there — it was the final day of our annual visit. The three of us kissed her one last time, gathered her things, and drove home. When we got there, Dad found a […]
Category: family
Strength and vanity
Camelback Mountain, in Phoenix, boasts a rigorous hike with a glorious view. It fits easily between breakfast and lunch, and if you’re in the habit of brisk walks you’ll make it to the top. Probably. I went with my brother-in-law, who rowed crew for Rutgers and can move a piano by himself. He’s a humble […]
Five waypoints to live by
When you go through a crazy season and need to regroup, how do you find your bearings? In our family we forged a set of shared waypoints — the five ideas we use to gain perspective and clarify what matters: It’s better to be than to seem. Love is stronger than will. Seek the truth. Take the long […]
Characterization, Beowulf style
Whether rearing children, growing your soul, or writing a novel, it’s hard to beat this bright line from Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf: Behavior that’s admired is the path to power among people everywhere (page 5).
Seven Things I’ve Learned About Communication in Marriage
(1) It’s the water that keeps your relationship hydrated. You’re friends. You trust each other. So talk about what you’re thinking, feeling, planning, doing, learning, and believing. That’s what friends do. (2) Do it with love. Affection is nice, but love goes the distance. It reaches deep and rouses kindness — a reliable guardrail for steering […]
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