In the Philippines, They’re Looking for Us

Please.  We Can Be Hope. We Can Be Help.  Maybe you’ve heard the story that Fred Rogers offered as advice for helping young children cope with frightening  circumstances: When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always […]


Bagels and Floods

The Four-Slice Wonder. Cream Cheese and Choices We had a bad day, here, not too long ago. He said something, or maybe I did, and it didn’t sit right on the other’s heart, and suddenly we were scowling and snapping words out of thin air, turning our backs and letting untold annoyances overflow their banks. […]


Wiping Out: Failure and Redemption

Judi, Rob, and Elaine Matoushek. Pinning Ceremony. Honolulu. September, 2011. Persisting I still remember a silly analogy I offered to my son-in-law once. And I blush when I do. It was Christmastime and  my daughter Elaine was dating Rob. The whole family could tell that this was “the one”–that this relationship would endure. The kids […]


Wiping Out: Failure and Redemption

Judi, Rob, and Elaine Matoushek. Pinning Ceremony. Honolulu. September, 2011. Persisting I still remember a silly analogy I offered to my son-in-law once. And I blush when I do. It was Christmastime and  my daughter Elaine was dating Rob. The whole family could tell that this was “the one”–that this relationship would endure. The kids […]


Wiping Out: Failure and Redemption

Judi, Rob, and Elaine Matoushek. Pinning Ceremony. Honolulu. September, 2011. Persisting I still remember a silly analogy I offered to my son-in-law once. And I blush when I do. It was Christmastime and  my daughter Elaine was dating Rob. The whole family could tell that this was “the one”–that this relationship would endure. The kids […]