Watch out East Coast: here comes a 16 year old boy kind of hurricane in the form of Owen, Bryce and Matthew. This summer, Owen will use the East Coast Greenway to cycle 2,900 miles from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida to build awareness for Adaptive Sports Awareness, a non profit organization he… Continue reading Owen’s Ride: One 16 Year Old’s Quest for Adaptive Sports Awareness
Last week at the post office, Carver filled out a Selective Service card for the military without my noticing. But he proudly tucked the card with his name filled in the boxes and hid beneath his shirt until we got home. “Mom,” he exclaimed, “I’m going into the Army.” Suddenly, he was 18 or 22… Continue reading Thinking of Children and Veterans this Veterans’ Day…
November is National Novel Writing Month– who knew? So, I find it apropos that this month is the one year anniversary of True North having arrived on my doorstep in ACTUAL book form courtesy of our fabulous UPS man, Ted Russell, and AuthorHouse Publishing. Four times of year, I receive a report from their marketing… Continue reading My Gift for You Today: Non-Election- Related Light Reading
Today, November 1st, is not only the Halloween Candy Hangover for schoolchildren everywhere; it’s also the deadline for some early college applications. I’ve had a lot of college essay reading this fall both from students and children of friends who know I’m an English teacher (Side note: it’s okay to send to me– love it,… Continue reading The College Essay: Clicking Send
You realize how much your kid listens to your conversations with your spouse when your 6 year old son is worried he’ll get pressure sores on his bum from some new pants which have buttons on the rear pockets. I try to explain that Dad is afraid of pressure sores because he doesn’t have much… Continue reading Autumn and Atrophy: Once the Leaves Leave…
The teachers at our elementary school have said to me on more than one occasion that if we believe 50% of what our kids tell us at home about their day, then they will believe 50% of what our kids tell them at school. There was the day Carver told Mrs. Rand that his only… Continue reading The 50% Rule
Sadly, this past weekend, a large chimney fire in our neighborhood destroyed two families’ homes, completely displacing two local teenagers and their dad. Upon returning to school on Monday, I could only give hugs. Incredibly mature and with tremendous perspective, the oldest, a senior, smiled and said, “Everyone got out safely, and we have a… Continue reading Fire in the Mountains
I killed a mouse this morning. In a trap, mind you, not with my bare hands. The worst part is that I’ve been hunting mice for weeks unsuccessfully. Not yet 6 AM, I picked up the white trap splattered with what appeared to be dried chocolate milk, next to the garbage can, wondering aloud to… Continue reading Of Mice and Men and Morning Duty
Our fundraising season for Eastern Adaptive Sports will be a short one this year as the days grow darker and leaves change color, and we truly speak from our hearts about how much we appreciate the support. Finally, we have received our official non-profit status from the IRS. Whoop whoop! I’m really proud of my… Continue reading Eastern Adaptive Sports Officially Welcomes Chief Motivational Officer Geoff Krill
Greta, age 5, has put together in her brain that babies are made by God and Mother Nature, and they grow in moms’ bellies across the universe. Totally makes sense. I am comfortable with her believing this for the time being. Carver does not yet care where babies come from, unless they are baby… Continue reading The Holy Trinity: God, Mother Nature, and Patrick Swayze
Heather Ehrman Krill: The "Write" Kind of Coach 