As most of you know, I spent 27 years in a middle school classroom teaching band instruments, music and life. I've shared a lot of what went on in terms of awesome moments, funny moments, heart warming moments and goofy middle school antics. A colleague once summed up the age group perfectly: they are the … Continue reading GET OUT
Tag: family
ROAD TRIP
I recently had the pleasure of catching up with a friend from my performing days. He is a spectacular bass player, and he and I made for a tight rhythm section for a while in college We began playing jazz along with his cousin Jake and anyone else we could find in the halls of … Continue reading ROAD TRIP
COMMUNITY
There is so much in the news today that makes the head spin, the heart ache, and the stomach churn. The internet is alight with people (and bots) spewing hate, demonizing one another, and throwing personal insults. It is difficult to remember a time in my life that current events were as polarizing as they … Continue reading COMMUNITY
MUSINGS AND FOLLOW-UPS
Hello everyone! Thursday came up quick this week, so here is the Friday version of my brain: If you have never read my blog before, do not start here, you will be confused. Maybe try this one first. Ok, that's enough housekeeping. Let's see who is up for a memory quiz today. I recently received … Continue reading MUSINGS AND FOLLOW-UPS
FROM THE VAULT VOLUME XXVI
Well... I recently told a story to a friend about one of the greatest pranks that was ever played on me and it got me thinking that maybe you would like to hear it. So today, we again swing open the door to the vault that is my memory. I will change the names of … Continue reading FROM THE VAULT VOLUME XXVI
FRIENDS
This week we will shine a bright spotlight on the title of this piece. Let me preface by telling you that there are no jokes in here. I feel the need to put that front and center since I am usually (always) clowning around. Earlier this week, I travelled to Philadelphia for scheduled medical visits. … Continue reading FRIENDS
HELICOPTER
The only time I have ever been on a helicopter, I was unconscious. As I have written before, late in the evening of January 2, 2024, I experienced the most terrifying moments of my life. I had been in a local emergency room all day feeling generally crummy after briefly losing consciousness for about 5 … Continue reading HELICOPTER
52 PICK UP
On November 5, 2024 many of you had the day off. You're welcome. This happened because it was my 52nd birthday. I'm not sure that I will be able to line that up again for all of you, but I will try my best. All joking aside, I am a student of history. When we … Continue reading 52 PICK UP
IT SHAPED ME
Childhood. Everything that is right and wrong with all of us stems from it. Of course there are exceptions and growth can be made, but when we peel back layers and layers of armor that we all wear, we invariably come to look upon these formative years as the catalyst that has shaped the person … Continue reading IT SHAPED ME
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
I think that anyone who has raised children will tell you that anything can and does happen. Once upon a time, due to my physical condition and progressive nature of muscular dystrophy, I believed that having children was a bad idea for me. I had all kinds of negative thoughts about my physical ability to … Continue reading THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT