One of the final lengthy conversations I had with #MyAwesomeDad… was about the day he and #MyMom finally moved into the house I grew up in. It was the first of 16 new houses occupied on South 234th Place in Des Moines. I was just six months old, and with two older sisters, our current Read more about The Give and Take in Pastores, Guatemala[…]
In our laundry room downstairs, a discarded teak book shelf holds my causal threads. Of the four shelves, I’d say the top one gets the most action. I’m a regular on E-Bay seeking size 38 Ex-Officio tan shorts. Yes, those same style I’ve been sporting in for a dozen years. “Quality never goes out of Read more about Socks Don’t Have to Match[…]
Hi Mom, It’s your special day! Happy Birthday to the one who put on at least 100 birthday parties a year, many for kids that would not have had a party if not for you and the loving staff you guided with grace. I wanted to let you know I‘ve been leaning on your lessons Read more about A Birthday Card, Heaven Sent![…]
Waikiki Beach was the first tropical sand my toes ever knew. It was a last minute surprise visit to see my vacationing Mom and Dad in 1983. I convinced my roommate Randy that a week in the island sun would be a fantastic getaway. The white push button house phone in the Reef Hotel lobby Read more about Birthday fun in the sun, minus one[…]
My parents had a giant storage space in our garage. Painted aqua marine, it stood about six feet high and ran around eight feet long. It took in lots of seasonal goods and was the resting spot for discarded sports equipment, including most of my out of season hockey gear. Whenever one of us was Read more about A Childhood of Thanksgiving[…]
Although the distance between us Wednesday night was only the length of a dining room table, I’ve learned the gap between the way we think is even closer. The Honorable Joseph W Lamin MP and I had more 1:1 time in my country during our two brief days together than during my two recent trips Read more about West African-West American Brothers[…]
My Dad and I shared a bench at the end of a dock this weekend. It took us six hours by car to get to that Adirondack two seater crafted by Doug, my uber-talented brother in law. Traveling with my 86 year old Dad through places that represent some of his best childhood moments is Read more about Fountain of Knowledge and Goodness[…]
I opened a friend request during one of the few moments of connectivity while I was in Sierra Leone. At first glance, I thought it was a Doug that attended my same high school. I quickly confirmed the request and moved on to the next task not knowing just how long I’d be part of Read more about Source of Compassion[…]