I took a little poll on Facebook today. I wanted to ask my personal collective hive-mind what they thought about me. Specifically, I wanted to know if they thought I was an introvert or an extrovert. The answers, surprisingly, were all over the map. I got everything from extreme extrovert to extreme introvert, and lots…
Taking Stock of What I Have and What I Haven’t…
Taking stock of what I have and what I haven't What do I find? The things I got will keep me satisfied Checking up on what I have and what I haven't What do I find? A healthy balance on the credit side... It's that time of year when I find myself taking stock of…
A Visit to Stonewall
I do not have a bucket list. I do not plan on kicking the bucket any time soon. I do, however, have something I call my “Crazy Awesome Life” list. That’s what I want to do. I want to have a crazy awesome life. This summer, I’ve crossed a LOT of things off that list.…
Chocolate Factory Philosophy
If you want to view paradise - simply look around, and you will. Anything you want to, DO IT. Want to change the world? There’s nothing to it. Ah, the immortal words of Willy Wonka. I loved that movie as a kid. Heck, I love it now. But only the old one – the REAL…
To Stand in Awe
Awesome. How many times a day do I use this word? Way too many. “Hey Chris, I got this project done.” Awesome! “It’s 6 PM! We get to leave!” AWESOME! “How was the catfish last night?” It was awesome! It’s become something of a flippant response to anything positive or remotely great. I didn’t realize…
An Earthquake of Normal Proportions
Seismic shifts can sneak up on you. We can’t predict earthquakes. Scientists try, but when the earth decides to shift beneath us, there’s no warning. It just happens. Back in 2011, a few months after I left the Army, a rare earthquake struck the east coast. I was sitting in Maureen’s basement with Duffy,…
The Summer of the Scary
Sometimes, I giggle when I’m nervous. It’s a coping mechanism. I don’t giggle when I’m frightened. When I’m frightened, I cry. But when I’m nervous, in that “I really want to do this, but I don’t know what’s going to happen, and I’m excited, but a little scared, and I’m going to try, but holy…
The Courage of Imperfection
It’s no secret that I have issues with perfectionism. In fact, it’s become something of a running joke among my friends that I have a touch of “CDO” [because of course, the letters need to be in alphabetical order]. And it’s true. I laugh along with them, but it really has been something I’ve…
Before We Disappear
I became a better person because of Alzheimer's disease. I had the rare privilege of working in the dementia unit of a nursing home for several years. The lives I encountered there were unique. Their stories both heartbreaking and life-affirming. Those five years were some of the hardest years of my life, personally. I had…
Riding in Style
This time 5 years ago, my only means of transportation was a bicycle. Yes. A bicycle. Yes, it was pretty funny watching me wobble down the streets of Carlisle on it. No, I never actually got very good at riding it, but I managed to get from point A to point B. I didn’t have…
VoyagersHeart 