The One Who Got Left Behind

No one wants to read a sad story, but I need to write one. It’s about my dog Nalu who got left behind in Hawaii when I moved to Washington DC almost 6 months ago. When I last saw my beloved Nalu, he was sitting in the front seat of a ...

Jimmy and the Shark

“Oh man, you’re tight!” Jimmy says as he as he probes his powerful thumbs into my shoulder muscles. “Aieeee! You better believe it!” I laugh. Laughing when you’re in pain seems to be a guy thing. “What have you been doing? We gotta fix ...

Aging Sucks

I have a birthday coming up. I will be eighty and I’m dreading it. I feel like my foot is caught in the railroad tracks with a freight train barreling towards me, its whistle blowing and its headlamp spinning madly as it bears down on ...

The Dance of Intimacy

My wife Susan pulls out her old, weathered copy of the Study Guide for Marriage and Family Therapy, and opens it to a well turned-down page. Tears come to her eyes as she reads a quote by clinical psychologist David Schnarch: “Intimacy ...

Back to Basics

It’s one of those mornings. I wake up wallowing in self-pity, caught in a downward spiral, worrying about this month’s Visa bill, worrying about whether our house will sell, worrying about mortgage payments. My old scarcity fears come ...

A Dog-Centered Life

Just over a year ago my wife Susan and I decided to get a puppy. Not just any puppy, but an Australian Shepherd puppy. Aussies, as they are often called, are herding dogs, known for being incredibly smart, loyal, and energetic. I have ...

The Nuka Buzz

Where else, but on Maui, can you go to a trendy sushi bar in a tiny upcountry town and talk to a dear friend about forgiveness and compassion, and then get involved in a conversation (over a frosted bottle of Ginjo Sake) with a pro ...

A Testament to Love

I don’t go to many weddings. The last wedding I attended was my own, when I married Susan four years ago. Before that, it was my son Peter’s wedding almost thirteen years ago. So, it was a bit of a stretch for me to fly 5,000 ...

Timeless Works of Art

Susan and I arrive early for Dale’s gathering. We open the back gate and walk through a small courtyard that adjoins his studio. A gnarly 8-foot high piece of wood sits off to one side, along with several wooden packing crates. As we ...

Shark Tales

Tom is sitting on the sand at the water’s edge, his knees drawn up, putting on his “NoShark” ankle band. With his long limbs and full-length black wet suit, he looks like some strange sea creature. He carefully wraps the heavy-duty ...