Not the Papa
Nothing could have prepared me for these moment when both of my sons became men.
Looking Back at Christmas 2004
This afternoon I went out on my lunch break to the Walmart to find some dry erase markers that are to be a part of a special Santa present to the boys. It was rainy and dreary and as I tried to navigate out of the difficult parking lot, a […]
A Million Different Ways
You think you have a good sense of it going in, or at least what the changes will be. You know that life is going to change. You know about the late nights and the lack of sleep and the slowly dwindling bank account and the rooms that fill up […]
Anger vs. Happiness
On Monday, at his baseball game, Benjamin had a great first at-bat. In his division, now, kids have started pitching, but only until they throw four balls to a batter. Then they go back to the pitching machine. In Ben’s at-bat, he quickly got two swinging strikes before the coaches reminded […]
Growing Up with Crayola
Earlier today, I happen to be thinking about Crayola and it really got me thinking about their impact on my life and all the memories, both from my childhood and the kids, that I have around them. So I thought I’d share some of those thoughts. One of my earliest memories […]
What does a ball hitting the bat look like?
His uniform seemed like a lead shroud hanging from his thin frame. His hat pulled low, concealing wet eyes. Glove tucked under his arm as he drags himself into the car. He is heartbroken. My heart breaks for him, also. I’ve been there and it feels like there is nothing […]
Meeting a Yankee
Those of you who know me, know that I am a big Mets fan. In recent years, I have playfully “trained” Benjamin and Matthew to boo whenever they hear “Phillies” or “Yankees” (“Eagles”, as well). Well, recently, I had the opportunity to meet Sparky Lyle and get his autograph. Having […]
Anguish and Pride on the Little League Field
I’ve had some tough times as a father in the seven plus years that I’ve been on this wild journey. There have been some emotional moments for so many different reasons. However, one of the most emotional moments happened for me this past Saturday on a baseball diamond. I am […]
CSI: North Pole
A couple of months ago, our dog Digger lost a tooth and so the kids decided to put it in a bag and put it under their pillow for the Tooth Fairy. Later that night, after I had slipped the tooth away and was in the process of slipping a […]
Darkness and Light
The other night, I sat at church and watched the Christmas concert for my sons’ Catholic school. I watched with an overflowing heart as my kindergartner and my big first grader sang, one with a giant smile on his face, the other studiously singing the words as he seemed to […]
It's The Papa 