Take no offense. It’s just that simple. Just don’t. ———————- Years ago, my father-in-law hit a poor golf shot. It wasn’t what he had intended but the ball went forward and ended up not far from the pin. He said to me, “Cam, that shot is called a son-in-law.” “Oh, really?” I said, “Why is that?” “It’s called a son-in-law,” he said, “because it wasn’t exactly what I had in mind but, it’ll do.” I have laughed at that for ten years or more. He delivered it perfectly. I remember thinking “I could choose to be offended, but I’m going… Read More
Categories: Libsyn2Friday is yet another first day of school. We will get the kids to pose on the front steps like we always do. ———————— It’s 6:30am Wednesday morning. The house is quiet except for the non-ending, dripping rain that’s been a part of this very wet summer. In twenty-four hours, this kitchen will be buzzing. Tomorrow is the first day of school and my kids will return to their morning rituals that we’ve known so well for so many years – making lunches, packing backpacks, gathering clothes for practices, and looking for shoes that were accounted for last night but… Read More
Categories: Libsyn2Sometimes I quickly conceive a brilliant idea and quickly make plans to execute that idea and I realize I’m smarter than I give myself credit for. ___________________ Several years ago, I arrived at the neighborhood pool early one morning to swim laps. It was a habit I had gotten into that summer and the week before, my buddy Josh and I had talked about our workouts – how we warm up, how we keep track of laps. Stuff like that. I was going to try some of his ideas and it was early that day, but someone was already in… Read More
Categories: Libsyn2It’s a rediculous question I ask when getting to know another couple. Their answer tells me a lot. . . ——————————– When my wife and I meet new couples, there’s always a series of get to know you questions. “How did you two meet?” is a standard one. “Tell me about your children” is another. But a question I enjoy asking that tells me most of what I want to know about a couple is this: “Do you change your voice when you talk to your dog?” “Do you have a dog voice?” If the couple say that they don’t… Read More
Categories: Libsyn2I say it all the time: “Turn off your lights when you leave your room!” It’s yet another way I’ve become my father. ——————————— I heard myself say it and I could hear my father’s voice coming out of my mouth as it happened. “Please turn off your lights when you leave your bedroom,” I said to my teenage son. “There is no need to leave those lights on if there’s no one in there. Ceiling fan, too. Turn it off or I’m taking money out of your allowance.” I remember as a child my father saying this to me…. Read More
Categories: Libsyn2It’s not uncommon for me to consider something only after I’ve said it aloud which is the opposite of how it should happen. It usually leads to awkward moments… ———————————– I asked a new acquaintance of mine, in a voice that was, perhaps, too loud, if his son was given the name Carson because he was conceived in a car. His wife overheard me, turned and looked at me with an expression of shock and disgust. My acquaintance however, turned to me, smiled, and started nodding. His wife then turned to him with a more severe look of shock and… Read More
Categories: Libsyn2There are some parts of human evolution that have not changed. What made a kid happy a long long time ago is the same stuff that makes kids happy today. And what made a parent happy a long time ago remains unchanged, too. _________________________________________________ “My fifteen-year-old twins will have been at camp for nearly a month when I pick them up late next week. It will be wonderful to see them again. All my kids have loved Camp Mac and my oldest kids, who haven’t been to camp for a few years, still stay in touch with many of the… Read More
Categories: Libsyn2I feel like the world is on fire right now. The discord and the shootings won’t stop. We need to change something and it must begin with you and me. Check out this episode!
Categories: Libsyn2Father’s Day is Sunday. I’ve done some brilliant things on Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. And I’ve made some bone-headed mistakes. Transcript: Father’s Day is Sunday. I hope all you fathers have a wonderful, celebratory, appreciation filled day. And I hope that you with fathers still alive offer the same yours. My newly widowed father simply wants a phone call. That plus a year’s supply of casseroles. I remember a conversation with my mother years ago. My children were entering their teens, and I asked my mother at what age does a child become grateful for the extraordinary amount of… Read More
Categories: Libsyn2Our Memorial Day Weekend day trip to Perdido Bay to float with the family didn’t turn out as we had hoped. Check out this episode!
Categories: Libsyn2