Category Archives: Lessons

   When I was 5 years old, my favorite toy was a Ginnette doll. She didn’t look exactly like this picture, and I didn’t know till I searched for the illustration whether her name had one “n” or two, but … Continue reading →

     When I was 34 I think, I had a little breakdown. It was the holiday season, and I’m sure I was under shopping pressure (I don’t like to shop), and things had not been going well. I was probably … Continue reading →

When I was 48 or so, I dropped the grumpiness about Christmas season. It was December and I was falling into annual complaint mode – you know: critical about how soon the commercial decorations went up, how bombarding the ads … Continue reading →

When I was 9 or 10 years old, the tooth fairy failed to visit. Before I went to sleep I placed my tissue-wrapped tooth under my pillow. When I awoke I sent my hand right there, ready to grasp a … Continue reading →

   When I was 20 I entered Camp Pendleton with Lisa. According to Marine records, we never left. We were visiting her mother in Laguna Beach that summer week, and we were avoiding her conversation that evening. Lisa borrowed the … Continue reading →

   When I was 15 it seemed like all I wanted to do was walk around outside. Especially in winter, when the streets were less crowded, especially at night when the scene was more inspiring. My parents objected. It wasn’t about … Continue reading →

 When I was 39, Loma Prieta quaked and stopped the World Series. There were far more tragic consequences, and at the time we heard rumors about roads collapsing, but it was that bit, about the World Series, that made me … Continue reading →

   When I was 41, Katie was between 14 and 15. She had her own social life and she was allowed to go out at night. We agreed on a curfew time and with one memorable exception (I was expected … Continue reading →