“Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” Mark Twain Over the years, my diet has transformed. Raised in Cumberland, Rhode Island during the Howdy Doody/Captain Kangaroo/1950-1960s era…

Hiking is the perfect teacher for understanding a life well lived. Each hike begins with enthusiasm and naivete` about what lies ahead. For those first few steps, one is filled with energy and the hope of discovery. Trail descriptions never…

I had the opportunity to walk through the old Rocky Point Amusement Park grounds the other day. The last time I walked this area I was likely 9 or 10 years old. The nostalgia for the lost rides, shore dinner…

As a writer, I often cannot control the voices in my head. They run Helter-Skelter from one thought to another. When one strives to write, you often find yourself more a spectator or passenger. Rare to have any control at…

Most people misunderstand how memory works. We think of it as a recording of our daily lives. It is not. It is a compendium of images, sounds, smells, and tastes; voices, conversations, laughter, and feelings; moments of ecstasy and sorrow,…

It is the most common of human experiences, dealing with the death of a family member, friend, or others who affected your life. I think we make a mistake when we focus on the tragedy of death. Death is one…

Here is a bit of a perspective for my fellow members of the Cumberland High School Class of 1974. In 1974: The President of the United States was Richard Nixon, until August 9th, and then Gerald Ford after Nixon resigned…

The first step is admitting you have a problem. There are few complete truths. One undeniable truth is that New Year’s resolutions are a waste of time. Either you will do something or you will not. Setting some arbitrary date…

Did you ever wonder at what point you will realize you’re dead, or if there even is such a realization. Some people see their imminent demise. Some are looking in the opposite direction. Some try everything to avoid the inevitable.…