OPEN MIKE
reflections
ARTICLES AND PERSONAL REFLECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, AND ON BLOGS
Listening for the Story
They say you can learn a lot by asking questions. You can also learn a lot by listening. Last month, I made plans to spend a long weekend in Florida with my dad since he wasn’t planning on coming up for the holidays. Between the time I booked the trip and the moment...
The Letters that Brought my Brother Back
While cleaning out my father’s apartment to get it ready for sale, my sister came across a stack of handwritten letters we had sent my grandparents in the early and mid-1980s. We had just left Florida for Connecticut, and letter writing was our primary means of...
Lessons From a Stranger
Some of you may be tempted to think that what you’re about to read is a bit of heartwarming fiction. It’s not. This happened to me this morning, and I feel compelled to share it with you on a day when we intentionally set aside time to be grateful for what we have....
The Waiting Room
Alone again with his thoughts, Joseph felt as if the waiting room he was in was more than just a space where people go for a quick break or to have a private conversation out of earshot of their loved one. It wasn’t a place of comfort, like heaven, nor a place of...
Raising a Glass (and a Tootsie Pop)
This is my first Mother’s Day without my mom. And I’ll be honest—I wasn’t sure how it would feel. I knew it would be quiet. No phone call. No reminder to go to Mass. No “Michael, you are full of soup” when I tried to pull one over on her like the wise ass that I am...
23 and Me
Dear Grace, Patrick, and Maggie, Today marks your 23rd birthday—which means I’ve now spent 24 years as a father. How that’s possible, I’m not quite sure, because in my head I’m still 25. But it’s true: 23 years ago, you came into the world nine weeks early and have...
The Don of John Knox Village
Moving your father into a nursing home is a lot like sending a kid off to college. You set up their bed with fresh sheets, show them where the dining hall is, and pray they don’t come down with a sexually transmitted infection. Thankfully, my father doesn’t have a...
Beyond the Bridge
Murphy let out a big yawn and closed his eyes. He hadn’t felt like himself these past few weeks and thought a morning nap might do him some good. Daylight savings time had just begun, and he felt that losing an hour of sleep got harder every year. Why not make up for...
The Light We Give
I don’t think there’s anyone who has ever regretted waking up early to watch the sunrise. I’ve spent the past week in Florida taking care of my father, and the early mornings are pretty much the only time I have to myself. The rest of the day (and night) is divided...