I had a bit of an emotional morning the other day .. at a strange place no less: A gas station.. After filling my car with regular octane, I walked into the store to grab a snack and coffee … and noticed Halloween candy. Halloween candy!? And back to school signs! Autumn!? School buses!? I … Read moreSchool days of August
My son paused from games and playing this weekend to note something to me.. In his innocent five year old voice, he conjectured that ‘there are a lot of bad people on the planet.’ It was a remarkable statement from someone still new to this big hot pale blue mess. On Friday night he overheard … Read moreNever underestimate the intelligence of a child
Simply put: Knoebels is the best park in the state of Pennsylvania. Scratch that.. the nation.. Scratch that.. the world. Need I go on? Perhaps there is a bias here. I have been traveling to Knoebels Grove since I was an infant.. I go every year–being about 25 minutes away helps. The park has free … Read more90th Anniversary: Knoebels opens–and promises a new room of scares!
In May of 2015, I posted a photograph of my son Ayden in a store that was closing in my mall. In the article, I mentioned how similar the photo looked to one taken of me, when I was three years old, in Centralia Pennsylvania. I have the photograph of myself. I did not publish it … Read moreThe 33-year-old photo, signed sealed and delivered
I hate fish tanks, except this one I dislike the work and hardships that come with fish tanks. Not only the dead fish who wash up to the top, but the endless cleaning.. endless power eating.. endless work. But I would make a sacrifice, as would my wife and son, if we could get this amazing … Read moreI hate fish tanks, except this one
Today was Sunday squash slicing day.. It turned out well. A pumpkin to represent each member of the family except the dog. We forgot that one.. But the human are all accounted for in squash form.
The summer is waning. The final days are quickly approaching. .This past weekend, in a last impromptu decision, my wife and son, along with our niece, went to Long Beach Island for two days and one night.. we rummaged through the online database of phone numbers to find the right place at the right price—still … Read moreA memory at the beach
Hypochondria and children.. They don’t mix well. Allow me to explain. I am a paranoid hypochondriac. I have always been a hypochondriac, since childhood when I thought every little thing was wrong with me and fretted endlessly about it.. and then into my teenage years when I held it private so no one would know.. … Read moreHealth non scares and selfish cares
About a year ago I wrote a critical post concerning UNCLE GRANDA (http://coalspeaker.com/post/63312159390/a-question-for-all-the-parents-out-there) .. I was also called to task on my statement. One reader wrote this at the time: That show is great. Seriously. It is all about acceptance and just being yourself. Uncle Grandpa is there when you’re down and reminds you everything … Read more