Eventually you have to come to the realization that, no matter how hard you try, your kids have to sometimes fend for themselves. I learned this from Henry.

Henry has a problem with my daughter, so he also has a problem with me. For all of you who are wondering how I could write about a child and use his name in a story, let me put your minds at ease. Henry is not his real name. The film Regarding Henry happened to be on television last week. Don’t ask me to rationalize how my brain works. continue reading »

The old saying goes that there are no small parts, only small actors. I believe that, and have tried to impress that feeling in my daughter as she enters into a foreign world – her first school musical.

I have experience in this world, having performed in three school plays during my time at Archbishop Ryan High School for Boys (this was before the co-ed revolution). I performed in two plays at Ryan and one at Nazareth Academy. Hey, all-girls schools have to get their talent from somewhere, right?   continue reading »

Goodbye, old fiend.

The opportunity was just too delicious. And so, 2009 decided that it had one more trick up its sleeve before a year that I would just as soon forget left for good.

It wasn’t a fun year, but I’m sure that I’m not alone in that assessment. After losing my job just before Christmas of 2008, I spent all of 2009 as one of the growing numbers of unemployed people in America. Becoming unemployed was not my fault, but that doesn’t stop just a little bit of you from thinking that you are a failure. You have no choice but to leave when the business closes its doors, and that was my plight. continue reading »

Somewhere in the halls of the Criminal Justice Center, somebody else was wearing my belt. It might not even have been his fault, but I was the one holding up my pants for the rest of the day. Welcome to jury duty.

I began to dread the prospect of jury duty from the moment I received my summons in the mail. This is not uncommon for most of us – nobody wants to put a hold on their lives to become a member of a jury of their peers, passing judgment on someone who probably wasn’t a peer to begin with. But jury duty is one of the unfortunate perks which comes from being a registered voter. The other perk is voting for politicians, but that’s another story. continue reading »

“Would you please turn that down?” I called out to my son, who was relaxing from his day at school. Normally when I say that phrase, it’s because of some music on his mp3 (Japanese rock is his favorite). However, he has started a new regimen when he relaxes after school — one that I truly didn’t expect.

My kid has become addicted to Maury. When I ask, he’s not really sure why, but I know. continue reading »

Sometimes, all it comes down to is uniforms.

Denise Maccari knows about uniforms. As the mother of sophomore at Northeast Catholic High School, she understands that uniforms have to be bought, and not at a discount price. If you’re lucky, perhaps a neighbor with a son just out of school will be able to give you a tie or a sweater. But Maccari’s son is also an athlete. That translates into even more uniform purchases, and a gym bag to carry everything. And all of this merchandise has one thing in common – it all proudly displays the name of Northeast Catholic. continue reading »

You can always tell when the new television season begins from the return of the tried and true TV character: stupid dad.

It didn’t used to be that way. The television of black and white images and only three channels boasted a plethora of wise fathers. Chances are you didn’t know what they did for a living, but did it really matter when Wally or Kitty had a problem? Everything was solved with a trip to Dad’s study, where he sat puffing his pipe or smoking his Camels, donning his sweater or jacket with the patches on the elbows. If Opie was pondering the meaning of life, good old Daddy Andy would find an answer while eating a piece of Aunt Bea’s pie or walking to the fishin’ hole. continue reading »

The summer is ending, and my daughter has begun her yearly excitement at the prospect of her impending birthday. She watches each commercial and scours the magazines, looking for yet another present to suggest to her parents. Already, I’ve been told that we are allowed to buy three different types of cake. Which one, thankfully, is our decision.

I understand this giddiness. Celebrating the anniversary of my birth was always a big deal to me. But now, on the eve of my 51st birthday, I’ve let go of the ideas of revelry, in favor of reflection.

continue reading »

I confess that I never liked the tree. Well, it’s not exactly a tree – just as big as a tree. It is only a part of my continuing dislike of this twisting stretch of plant life blocking out the side of my house. But that is not why the majority of its trunk and branches are now laying prone beside my fence. continue reading »

I always knew that we were getting close, when I caught my first scent of the ocean. That usually happened just as we drove onto the Great Egg Harbor Bridge, and it was my yearly invitation to the Jersey Shore.  That bridge was just the beginning of a drive that ended at a place I’ve always considered my second home: Stone Harbor, N.J. continue reading »