Although my first novel began “I never intended this, of course,” when I came to Pittsburg in mid-August, I intended to stay for a year or so. I intended to finish another novel. I intended to write a memoir. I intended to learn some things about myself. I had a lot of intentions. After eight … Continue reading A Melancholy Goodbye Followed by an Enthusiastic “Hey There, World!”

After all the kind words about an interview in Manchester InkLink earlier this week, I feel duty-bound to include some more of that, bits that ended up on the cutting-room floor. How did you decide to retreat to Pittsburg? It would be a good story to say I had a vision in which a man … Continue reading Bits from the Floor

I don’t believe in tarot, at leastthat a group of 78 cards has any ability to read the future or determine the outcome of choices. That would be absurd. Still, I do use tarot spread to catch a quick glimpse of my unconscious, sort of like using two mirrors to take a look at that … Continue reading In Response to The Lovin’ Spoonful: NO

Once upon a time, I was a genius. More accurately, for one brief season of my life, I belonged to Mensa, the so-called genius organization. I say “so called,” for a couple reasons. First, because the membership is based on scores on one of about 27 possible standardized tests, each of which defines intelligence uniquely … Continue reading Thoughts from a Partially Sunburned Man

The sun is still above the red rocks, but the sliver grows smaller between the tops of the butte and the bottom of the yellow ball each time I look over. I’m drinking a chai—heavier on star anise than I’m used to, and absolutely delicious—on this second-floor cushion-strewn terrace, a warm but stiff breeze blowing … Continue reading Evening Thoughts at a Pakistani Dhaba in Sedona

It’s 5:45 am at the Manchester, NH, Airport. There may be a good time to be at an airport, but 5:45 in the morning is not one of them.  If I were in a mood, I might focus on this. Instead, because I’ve got a double espresso and a croissant and an hour to kill … Continue reading Early Morning Airport Thoughts

Yesterday, a lifelong dream came true. Really. Lifelong may be a stretch, but it’s not a break with reality. Let me explain. I’ve mentioned my childhood best friend, John Warnke, in this space before. We’ve reconnected over the past couple months, which has been nice for both of us. John’s father, an Army officer paralyzed … Continue reading “In Hopes that He May Peak Again!” (and find Beth Austin)

I came north last August, planning for the beauty of thefall, the frigid isolation of winter, the softness of spring and the joys of summer. Some of those things have happened. The rest won’t, at least not for me, but I’ll get to that by and by. First, though, the last nine months in review. … Continue reading The Journey to Sit Still (with Big News)(or, honestly, a tease of it)

I’ve had a lot of lives, one of the advantages of not dying. In addition to being a disk jockey, an improv actor/director, school principal and drunk, I’ve also been a special-education director. Going through some files the other day, I came upon the following essay, written during that period, on the challenges of diagnosing … Continue reading Terror is the Given of the Place

I’m always shocked by which columns draw readers. For instance, I wrote one on my mystical clown leadership style last weekend. Based on all the conversations I’d had the previous 10 days about nonprofit leadership, I assumed the response would be overwhelming. I was wrong. It was not even underwhelming. In fact, it barely whelmed at all. … Continue reading Opening Up the Kimono (in the name of science)