Finding joy. In my Merriam-Webster Dictionary, joy is located on the page headed by “jounce” (meaning: jolt) and “juice” (meaning: juice). Joy is defined as “a feeling of happiness that comes from success, good fortune, or a sense of well-being” also “a source of...

About ten minutes ago I happily shouted, “It’s a wrap!” No, I’m not directing a major feature film (more’s the pity). I’ve just finished wrapping up, boxing up and mailing holiday gifts for friends and family who live- -somewhere else. I’m a Christmas Expat, 300 snowy...

This morning I got into an interesting Facebook conversation with some friends, two guys that I very much like and respect. Both are Vietnam vets, both hard-working individuals who have excelled in their professions and given a lot back to their respective...

I know, I know, you’ve been wracking your brain, trying to figure out gifts for the writers in your life. Believe me, it’s a problem. Even if you ask a writer what they’d like for a gift, they’ll probably answer with, “Huh?” It’s an old story, getting lost in the...

The holidays have started and the end of the year is nigh, the perfect time to reflect on the people who’ve inspired me, especially the ones who’ve given the gift of inspiration for a lifetime. Her name was Miss Hyatt when she came to our school the year I was in...