I’ve spent years interviewing candidates for various jobs. I’ve done it so much that I can generally tell within minutes of meeting someone whether or not they are going to fit in. In my profession, you have to be able to “talk the talk,” and if you’re not keeping up with my questions and observations,…

Several months ago, I wrote about my son’s high school graduation and how shocked my wife and I were when we learned that he had told the entire graduating class that he was headed for Japan once his senior year ended. We discovered his intentions after the valedictorian mentioned it during his speech. “I even…

I have a poignant memory involving the song “Stone in Love,” released by the band Journey in 1981. I can’t tell you the exact date of my memory, but it probably coincided with the popularity of the aforementioned song, likely around my sophomore year of high school.  The memory revolves around a weekend night in…

A little over 25 years ago, my brother-in-law called to ask if I was interested in meeting him in New York to catch a live airing of “SNL” at the Rockefeller Center.  I’ve ticked off several items on my bucket list over the years, but seeing “Saturday Night Live” from the studio audience was one…

The word “fascism” gets thrown around a lot these days. In fact, it’s so overused that if you’re in the political sphere and haven’t been labeled a fascist, you’re probably doing something wrong.  The term “fascism” comes from the Italian word “fascio,” meaning “a bundle” or “group,” which in turn comes from the Latin “fasces,”…

I’ve lived through one major hurricane in my life…and it wasn’t pretty. It was 2016 and my wife, mother, mother-in-law, and I were living in Jacksonville, Florida, in a vacation home directly on the beach. In fact, it was so “on the beach” that you could walk out the back steps and down a set…

 Last Monday, I put my 20-year-old son on a plane to Melbourne, Australia. All in, he was in the air for over 20 hours. I fly regularly and anything over three hours makes me insane. Sitting in such a cramped space for an extended time makes my body ache and exhausts my mind. I can…

Thirty years ago, I attended a friend’s destination wedding in Paris, France. It was a fun affair that involved several events related to the nuptials, balanced with a few sightseeing tours that introduced us to French culture. I remember having a blast but feeling slighted when it came to the few museums we visited. I…

I was sitting in an auditorium last spring watching my son graduate from high school when a funny moment occurred.  The class valedictorian was giving his speech and at a certain point mentioned the various personalities of his classmates and how they were a microcosm of society. “Some of my classmates are going to be…

 My son was barely 10 years old when we moved into our most recent home. On the day we arrived, I told him to get on his bike and ride around the neighborhood to look for kids to play with. Without concern or care, he promptly did just that.  I knew when he didn’t come…

I just returned from a conference, and to get back quicker, I decided to take the redeye. Every time I do this, I regret it because of the disrupted sleep, but there’s something about getting home sooner rather than later.  I was hoping for a whole row to myself but that wasn’t the case. As…

 My son just started a job waitering at a local Mexican restaurant. He also works at a grocery store, but he hadn’t been getting enough hours, and since he needs money for his planned trip abroad next month, he knew he had to find additional employment. The restaurant serves authentic Mexican fare and is decorated…

For the past two weeks, my wife and I sat glued to the television in anticipation of the nightly Olympic recap. In that time, we saw some amazing athletes do some amazing things. We also got to see sports that are rarely covered in the media, like badminton, table tennis, and sport climbing (I was…

 My son was walking out of the house this past weekend with something tucked under his arm. I inquired what it was and he cautiously told me it was a case of poker chips (apparently, he and his friends were going to play cards and watch the UFC fights). I gave him my usual disapproving…

 In the summer of 1518, the city of Strasbourg in France (then part of the Holy Roman Empire) was enjoying a rebirth after many troubling years. The markets were alive, merchants were trading, and the townsfolk were in high spirits, their worries swept away by the promise of a prosperous year. One bright July morning,…