"There is no better friend, no worse enemy than a United States Marine"
The Handshake Dance
The Handshake I’ve been thinking about handshakes lately, how something so ordinary can change the way two people meet each other. It’s easy to dismiss a handshake as old-fashioned or merely polite, but I’ve come to realize it’s more than a gesture. It’s a kind of body language that can center us, level us, or …
Calorie Counting Crows…
A Murder of Crows… and My Coffee Cake Confession Over the past few days, I’ve been deeply committed to the noble art of doing absolutely nothing. Sure, I’ve done a few small chores here and there and convinced myself that “researching” and “writing” while eating pastry counts as productivity. Most would say I'm putting the …
Tricks old dogs can learn
There are some things we learn from books and there are things life teaches us. One can assume is that the longer you live the more you'll learn. But, can you teach an old dog a new trick? I believe the answer is yes....we old dogs can learn new tricks....well, some of us. With age …
A Still Boat
Note For years, I written The Bowlegged Blogger... writing about motion. The rhythm of swimming, biking, running, and finding myself through movement. But lately, the miles have slowed (thanks to a new hip and cranky knees), and life's lessons have taken on a different effort. I used to measure myself by distance and time; now …
Where Does Faith Begin?
“Faith doesn’t always begin with certainty. Sometimes it starts as a spark, a whisper, or a quiet moment of reflection. The Charcuterie Board of Faith Something is stirring in our country. After years of politics dominating our conversation, I sense more and more people turning their attention back toward faith. Some are returning to beliefs …
Daily Devotional – September 19, 2025
Daily Devotional – September 19, 2025 Theme: Joy in the Small Things Reflection: Joy isn’t always found in grand moments, it often hides in the small, ordinary gifts: a smile, a breeze, a kind word. When we slow down, we see that joy is already near..... Intention: Welcome the small joys of my morning coffee today. Coffee: with a …
Sept 18th
Daily Devotional – September 18, 2025 Strength in Stillness True strength is not always shown through athletic ability. It is often found in the quiet space where we pause, breathe, and reset. Stillness can bring clarity to our thoughts and allows us to move forward with purpose. Today’s Focus: May I find strength not only …
Charlie Kirk
As our nation approaches its 250th year, the shooting death of Charlie Kirk a public figure at a university, a place meant for argument, learning, and the clash of ideas, cuts to the core of who we are becoming as a people. If an advocate for public debate, religious beliefs and constitutional principles can be …
Fluffy Chowda
Fluffy Chowder: New England Tradition with a Decadent Lift If classic New England clam chowder is a beloved sea captain, then Fluffy Chowder is the captain’s flamboyant cousin who shows up in a chartreuse silk bathing suit and orders Dom Pérignon Vintage 2013 with his lunch. This chowder starts with a rich, creamy clam chowder …
Mind Prober
Talking to myself always ends up with us both laughing ..... Are you at all curious what others think about you? I think most people are.... Even the most “narcissistic” people among us—those with an inflated sense of self-importance—must wonder at times what others really think of them. It’s part of being human isn't it? …
When Inspiration Knocks
“I don’t know what I think until I write about it.” — Joan Didion This quote from Joan Didion has always struck me not just as wise, but as fundamentally true. For me, writing isn’t about capturing a finished thought—it’s the very process by which the thought is formed. Until the words start appearing on …
Exiting Staged Right
How Donna Malenchini Turned Our Home Sale Into a Showcase For years, we watched with curiosity and admiration as our neighbor Donna Malenchini tirelessly moved furniture and decor in and out of her two-bay garage. At first, we didn’t fully understand the purpose behind all that activity. Over time, we learned she was a boutique …
Give your eyes a rub
Abby is off to the beach with her friend Julie and I've been listening to meditative music and observing Lanai time. I can feel the warmth of the sun helping me relax after a morning run. Lying still, eyes closed, I'm witnessing steams of color in waves that move upward. No I'm not on mushrooms, …
Mission- Hurricane Helene
BAPTIST ON MISSION - BURNSVILLE, NCI've often heard that people who dedicate themselves to serving others often experience deep personal growth, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose. I now know personally that those who renew others in need, will be renewed. I've learned that service can take many forms—whether through acts of kindness, professional roles, …
Is Elon a Tony?
The other day, I lost my cell phone at the golf range. Now, normally, this wouldn’t be cause for immediate panic, but let’s be honest—our phones are basically lifelines. Mine connects to everything: hearing aids, airlines, golf scores, email, blog posts… I might as well be missing a limb. I did the logical thing first—searched …
The Mystery of Finding Dimes: Signs from Beyond
Have you ever found a dime in an unexpected place—on the road, in a parking lot, or somewhere that made you pause and wonder? Many believe these small coins hold a deeper meaning, a message from someone beyond or a sign from the universe. Whether it’s reassurance, validation, or encouragement, finding a dime can feel …
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Four things to say…to someone you love
Before It’s Too Late At some point, we all have those big, emotional moments when we realize we should probably say something meaningful to the people we love. Unfortunately, those moments often come at dramatic, times—at hospital bedsides, during teary airport goodbyes, or after saying something you wish you'd never said. But here’s a thought: …
Grandmomma Rozzy’s Scarf
Izzy and The Cliffs of Moher The wind danced wild on Ireland’s shore,Where ocean waves in thunder roar.Izzy stood on the cliffs so high,Beneath a vast and endless sky. Wrapped in warmth, a scarf so fine,A gift of love, a treasured sign.Grandmomma Rozzy’s woven thread,Lay soft beneath her golden head. The sunlight spilled in golden …
Nature’s Way
Nature has its way of speaking to us, offering clues about our place in the grand scheme of things—sometimes in the most unexpected places. From the whisper of leaves in a forest to the… ahem… gentle revelations found on urinal screens and toilet paper rolls across America, the universe never stops providing signs. These porcelain …
January 1st, 2025
Welcoming 2025: A Year for Fulfillment Over Achievement As year 2025 slipped past the stroke of midnight, I toasted its arrival by pouring myself a glass of Bailey’s Irish Creme over ice. And so it begins, with 365 blank pages to fill with life's adventures. There’s something magical about that moment—the promise of a fresh …
December 28
Feelings of Attunement Every get a positive feeling about a person you've just met and wanted to tell them about it? I was having breakfast with friends a while back and as the waitress approached the table I had a strong sense of familiarity with her. It wasn't a sense that I'd met her before, …
December 27th
Back in 2015 I fell into a dark moody place. I needed to climb out of it and get back on a healthy daily plan to improve my mental and physical well being. I rarely ever look back over old posts but in this case I believe it could help remind me of a process …
Vegas Business Trip: My Unexpected Upgrade Story
Going To Vegas It was 1985, and I was a fresh-faced technical support representative for Polaroid, winging my way to my first-ever business trip. Destination: Las Vegas. Mission: work the company booth at CONDEX. As a newbie to business travel and a Vegas virgin, I was navigating the world of corporate expenses armed with a …
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The Gift of Contentment:
A Reflection for All As the season of Christmas approaches, I find myself in a state of quiet joy—a joy not tied to ribbons, packages, or sparkling lights but to something far deeper. It’s a feeling of being so utterly blessed in this moment that the desire for “more” seems to have dissolved entirely. I …
