Smile and Wave

Back when I was in high school it was part of the basic curriculum for students to learn a foreign language. Aside from the kids in the accelerated program who opted to enroll in Latin, the rest of us pretty much chose between French and Spanish. At that time, I...

I Resemble That Remark

If you’re a fan of Groucho Marx, the Looney Tunes character Foghorn Leghorn, or The Three Stooges, you are likely familiar with the sarcastic refrain, I resemble that remark. It’s a bit of a touché response acknowledging with a touch of humor that a criticism may...

Steady As She Goes

If I have learned anything in my almost 18 years as a parent, it’s that the best and most important thing I can do in any circumstance is to maintain my control because it’s the only control I have at any given moment. Obviously, I cannot influence situations or...

Fledgling Eagles & Human Teenagers

In March, the girls and I started watching the Big Bear Valley Bald Eagle nest-streaming camera showcasing a pair of bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, who had just laid their first brood of three eggs. At the time we started watching, the first egg just hatched and we...

The Questioning Phase

I remember when our girls were younger, especially those early toddler years leading into their childhood years and all the questions. If you’re a parent, you also are probably familiar with this pivotal time in a child’s life: The Questioning Phase. It’s the time in...