Family Dinner
When I was a boy, my family routinely gathered for dinner each evening, normally around six o’clock. My Dad, who was a physician, would arrive shortly after five, grab the evening newspaper—we had such things in those days—while my Mom...
Read moreListening and Learning About Opinions
Some years ago—when I was immersed in political campaigns and trying to win—I began to take account of how I was appealing to the younger generations. So, what did I do? You guessed it: I checked in with the younger...
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Not Beyond Our Grasp
What will our descendants say of those born to the Greatest Generation, those who bravely fought to save the world from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan? Did the “Boomer” generation measure up? We Boomers, eager to shed the fetters of Read more
The Real Fascists
Sometimes politicians and—by extension—their supporters are referred to as left- or right-leaning ideologues. They might further be described as far left- or right-wing, even earning the adjective “extremist,” to remove all doubt concerning their ideological bent. When I was a Read more
Getting There, There, and Gone
Vacations have three parts: the trip there, the stay, and the trip home. All have their moments of trial and enjoyment. But for us it’s been a marvelous time spent in Rosemary Beach, Florida. Getting There From Woodbridge, Virginia, we Read more
Vacation Time
It’s vacation season. And like many of you, Shelley and I are off to enjoy a week with kids and grandkids at the beach. We would be just as happy to have that rendezvous on the Potomac River, where we Read more
Big Tents and Bonfires
Political parties are sometimes not parties at all. They may have a “party” when they are triumphant in an election, but frequently their “parties ” are not celebrations, particularly when they are at each other’s throats. In such cases, they Read more
Noble Things
Recently, I watched a very interesting documentary on American horses. I am not a horseman by any means. What I know about horses is how they were generally used in warfare. I like military history, as I am sure many Read more
Fatherhood
Compared to Mother’s Day, Father’s Day plays a second fiddle in the orchestra of special days. Some years ago, I read that Hallmark Cards—founded in 1910—offered free Mother’s Day cards to prisoners. It was a raging success, with many inmates Read more