Like most Americans, I grew up with patriotism in my blood. My father, a career Army officer, always had the American flag posted outside our door. Even at a young age, I understood the importance of never letting the flag touch the ground. There was something almost sacred about the stars and stripes that I … More Patriotism and The Boss

Last month Sara and I went to see what will likely be the biggest blockbuster of 2023: Barbie. I chose to seize the zeitgeist of the moment with my own “barbiecore” outfit, sporting a pink collared shirt and pastel-green shorts. I had never cosplayed before, but Sara insisted that we dress appropriately, and I’m glad … More Barbie and Masculinity

I have been running about twice a week since May. This would be an unremarkable observation, if not for the catastrophic left ankle injury that I sustained in July of 2021. A bad sprain suffered during a trail race caused my ankle to swell up like a grapefruit and, as later revealed from an MRI, … More Still A Runner

Last week I contracted mononucleosis and ended up spending five nights in the hospital. It was the worst experience with physical illness that I have ever gone through. Despite the relatively brief duration of my symptoms – a mere two weeks – the pain of the disease has forced me to see my life from … More What I Learned from Illness

As I reflect on the war and our nation’s defeat, I remember my first and last days in Afghanistan. In the first, I am a wide-eyed first lieutenant stepping out of a C-17 onto the sunbaked tarmac of Bagram Air Base. Blackhawk helicopters circle the perimeter, cutting across the backdrop of the Hindu Kush rising … More My Memories of War

I thought that my life would not change.  After spending all of my twenties and a good part of my thirties as a single person, I had begun to suspect – fear, even – that I would never get married. I have previously written about my views on marriage, noting that I still believe in … More Reflections on Love, Marriage, and Singleness

I have finished my third week.  My Spanish continues to improve. There are days of frustration when I feel that my progress has stalled, but this is often followed by a conversation or two where I find myself using new verb tenses with relative ease and employing all of the new words that I have … More Sights and Sounds