Before I started writing this, I sat here staring at a blank screen for at least fifteen minutes. “It’s almost Christmas,” I thought. “I need to write something for Christmas.” I flipped through my mental Rolodex of “Best Christmas Memories”, which, of course, all came from my childhood (isn’t that true for everyone?). Then I tried to narrow it down…

If you’ve ever been to any seated event at a large venue, you know how confusing the seating can be. You arrive at the event, wander helplessly through crowds, trying to locate your destination, and by the time you find your seats, the show is almost halfway over. Then, less than five minutes after you’re settled in and enjoying the…

  When I write, I often draw on examples and memories from my formative years, the 1970s. For me, nostalgia resides in a brick rancher, nestled up on a hill in a small neighborhood where everyone knew everyone’s business, wore bell bottoms and corduroys, either loved or hated disco music, and religiously listened to Casey Kasem’s Weekly Top 40. If…

Have you ever wondered why, as you age, you don’t feel older in your mind, heart, or soul? It’s as if your body becomes older, but nothing else follows suit. I suppose that’s where the saying “young at heart” comes from, but it wasn’t until recently that I thought about it or understood it. Even though I don’t feel like…

It’s probably safe to say that the word any patient fears hearing the most is cancer. It’s wild that one little word can instantly change your whole world, isn’t it? And when you get a call from someone you love, and they say, “I have cancer,” it’s a gut punch unlike any other. That’s what I felt last Wednesday when…

We see it on television, in movies, and in real life. Someone moves to a new town for a fresh start. A guy who is unhappy at work quits and lands his dream job. A brokenhearted girl looks to her left and finds true love with the wedding singer who had been there all along. While all these things can…

Recently, I was talking with someone who had just finished chemotherapy treatment. He explained why patients usually feel so crappy after a round of chemo, telling me, “Well, you know, it kills the cancer cells, but it also kills good cells.” I knew that chemo killed good cells, too, but I had never really put two and two together. I thought about…

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the book, was published in 1957, and the animated television special’s original air date was December 18, 1966. Since then, the Grinch is—at least during December—an integral part of American life and is beloved by young and old alike. And it’s not just the book or the TV special we love; we also adore the…

Tuesday, October 29th, is National Cat Day. According to the calendar, every day of the year is a day to be celebrated and is therefore dubbed National Something Day. Many days have several “somethings” to be celebrated, which works well for those who like to have options. My favorite so far (aside from Festivus, of course) is January 16th: National Nothing Day, a day dedicated to doing…

When I get to know someone and tell them what I’ve seen or about the things that have happened in my life, I sometimes wonder if they think I exaggerate or make up stories. Often, I will throw a “This is true, I swear” statement somewhere in the story as I tell it, especially if I notice a look of…