Growing up, I loved every holiday.Valentine cards, chocolate Easter bunnies, Fourth of July fireworks, Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas presents, New Year’s noisemakers and goofy hats — I was all in. Looking back, I realize every holiday came with a responsibility attached.Cards to write. Church to attend. Gifts to buy. Food to cook. Plans to make.The onlyContinue reading “Halloween Is the Best Holiday, and I’ll Die on This Hill”
Category Archives: Writer at Work
Juror Number Ten
I didn’t realize then that jury duty wouldn’t teach me what justice is, only how fragile it feels when you’re the one holding it. My wife, Colleen, gets picked for jury duty all the time. She’ll open the mailbox, see the envelope, and groan like it’s the universe reminding her she hasn’t suffered enough. SheContinue reading “Juror Number Ten”
Five Minutes at a Time
The first time I gave a speech, I didn’t give one. I was in tenth grade, sitting in Ms. Davis’s English class, and I hadn’t prepared anything—not because I was bold or rebellious, but because I had absolutely no idea how to write a speech in the first place. No one had shown me howContinue reading “Five Minutes at a Time”
💉 The Things People Say When They Find Out I’m a Nurse
I spend my days moving between two worlds — writing stories about connection, and working in a profession built on it. When people find out I’m a nurse, the tone of a conversation shifts. Humor softens into honesty, and strangers share pieces of their lives that feel both familiar and sacred.
🌿 Spring Letter – 2026
Day 2 – The Drunken Sailor Walk
From wild wind tunnels to formal dinners and a surprise celebrity sighting, Day 2 proved that even a sea day can be full of stories. Somewhere between the sway of the ship and a steaming bowl of curry, it started to feel like home.
Seven Days at Sea: Forged in Salt and Sky
From a 2 a.m. wake-up to a penthouse tub with a skyline view, Day 0 was all nerves, laughter, and anticipation — the calm before the ship set sail.
An Alaska Cruise, a Snakeskin Hat, and the Rock Star We Didn’t Recognize
We spent an Alaskan cruise whispering jokes about the guy in the snakeskin hat acting like he was famous. Spoiler: he was Bret Michaels.
The Resting Irritated Face
I caught my reflection mid-thought the other day — jaw tight, eyebrows furrowed, eyes narrowed like I was interrogating my own mirror. Classic resting-bitch face. The truth? I was just trying to remember the word metaphor. I’ve been told I look angry when I think. Not passionate or focused — angry. I blame the eyebrows. They’re thick, serious things. Left untrimmed, they could probably claim diplomatic status. When they furrow, I go from approachable to “you’ve disappointed the council” in half a second.
January 1, 2026
Every year around this time, I’m reminded that New Year’s Day has excellent branding. It convinces us that one night of fireworks and bad sleep is enough to reset an entire life. That clarity will arrive with the calendar flip. That motivation will follow shortly after the coffee. Somewhere between breakfast and noon, gym membershipsContinue reading “January 1, 2026”
