Growing up, the room I shared with my brother could best be described as a post-apocalyptic landscape of continuous fraternal combat. We lived amidst a floor strewn with toys, blocks, dirty clothes, stuffed animals, and random childhood detritus while producing tremendous volumes of noise. No longer able to tolerate the…

After weeks in lockdown and months of social distancing, it is surprising to hear urgent knocking on the front door. Body blocking an excited golden retriever, I stick my head out as my neighbor retreats to a COVID-safe distance down the front walk. He hurriedly tells me that he believes…

The soul pushed gently against the body. The body lay cold and unmoving but not yet ready to surrender. Nothing appeared to be working in the mind and body, so the soul patiently began searching for an exit. The body lay on a narrow, yellow sand beach. It was thrown…

Producers could have spent a little more time on the harrowing adventure of learning to heal Encanto, the latest animated release from Disney, is many things; vibrant, beautiful, visually engaging, and filled with snappy, singable songs and a healthy dose of whimsy. Like Moana, audiences see underrepresented faces, skin tones, hairstyles, and cultural traditions positively. Encanto also stresses the importance of family and community service. …

Without warning, “normal” ran headlong into the cosmic. I don’t know how much longer I will be able to type. I’ve locked myself in my room. It’s getting dark, my pad battery is low, and I can hear people outside hurrying around in preparation for nightfall. …

Sunset used to be Martin’s favorite time of day. — Martin massages his forehead while slowly working his way down the figures in the spreadsheet. The numbers are large and speak of many complex problems with his project. While his team is making considerable progress, they are still well behind their goals, and Martin sees no immediate way to make…

Now that the boys are old enough, I told them the origin story for Halloween. This is a story that was told to me by a historian of some reputation. Long ago, children would celebrate Fall and the beginning of the Christmas shopping season by dressing up in elaborate costumes…

An Installment in the Semi-True Stories Series This is a story told many times at family gatherings. To maintain the dignity of the victim, I have deleted my brother’s name. It is a fine spring day in Kentucky. Having recently begun his student teaching, my brother also took responsibility for…

An Ounce of Prevention is the Difference Between Catastrophe and Survival If there is one thing the last year and a half has made abundantly clear, businesses and nonprofits need to prepare to face natural and human-created disruptions. Floods, fires, pandemics, hurricanes, and industrial accidents create not only unplanned expenses but also have wide-ranging and long-term effects on your nonprofit’s ability…