Throughout my life, there have been moments when I experienced profound satisfaction. Growing up, I remember the thrill of throwing a baseball from shortstop to first base without bouncing it three times, driving alone in a car, or speaking to…

Way back in 1972 one of my best friends, Tony Afonso, introduced me to the music of Neil Diamond, in particular the song “Brooklyn Roads.” This was accomplished by the incredibly technical act of placing a vinyl album on a…

For twenty years, I wore the badge of a police officer on the East Providence Police Department. Wearing that badge never seemed a burden, and I wore it with pride. But now, all these years after my retirement from those…

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” William Arthur Ward We have before us one of those moments in history where we face a great upheaval. Often such times are defined…

Laughing and joking as they ran along the path, Chrissy beat Joe to the edge of the field. They both stopped dead in their tracks. The barn was gone. “Joe, the barn. It’s gone.” “Like my grandfather always said, you…

Joe and Chrissy walked out of class at Ashton School and headed to lunch Just before they got to the lunchroom, Ms. Geddes, the principal, came over to them. “Joe, go get your coat. Your mother is on her way…

“We’re gonna what?” Chrissy said, as they admired the finished sleigh. “Take it for a ride.” Joe slapped her on the back, then walked to the front of the sled. The elves were lining up the reindeer, hoisting the harnesses…

“Grandpa!” Joe yelled as he saw the old man sitting on the couch. “You’re home!” He ran to him, wrapping him in a hug. “You have a talent for stating the obvious, Joe.” The old man smiled. “Huh?” “Never mind.…

“Do you want to tell me how we’re gonna get past an army of pine trees?” Chrissy asked as they walked along the bike path. “In case you forgot I had to save you from them last time.” “I know,…

Joe and Chrissy spent several hours organizing and assembling parts. Slowly, the sleigh began to take shape. Turning the page in the manual, Joe read the next step. Engine testing, part 1. He handed the book to Chrissy, found the…