THE HOLE THING
This may be a bit obvious as far as wordplay goes, but I’m thinking about “whole” and “holes” this week. The Whole Thing and the The Hole Thing. At first, they seem almost like utter opposites. The former means intact…
THE BOSS OF ME
When I was 22 years old, just out of college, living in Manhattan, I worked for a while at a 24-hour restaurant called “Lox Around the Clock.” It was next door to the iconic Limelight Nightclub, which was probably the…
GENUINE ARTICLE
“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”— Margaret Mead I’m constantly on the lookout for different ways of thinking about our uniqueness and our universality, the essential individualism and connectedness of human experience. Each of us…
DUCKS TO WATER
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” — Anne Frank This audaciously hopeful declaration has inspired and grounded me my entire life. I have a foggy recollection of my parents sharing the quote…
FROM SCRATCH
To bake something from scratch means to start with the basic raw ingredients rather than relying on boxed mixes and such. The term “from scratch” comes from racing and from sports like wrestling, referring to a literal “scratch,” a mark,…
MOVE TOO SLOW
A couple of weeks ago, I was working at my desk, trying to stay focused, but also handling several other minor pieces of business simultaneously Texts and emails were lighting up my devices periodically throughout, and I was meeting those…
AND THEN SOME
“Everyone has a purpose in life and a unique talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal…
THINGS WITH WINGS 2026
I’m pretty adept at coming up with a positive take on circumstances, meeting the turns and twists of life with optimism and hope. (At least enough optimism and hope, most days, to keep myself going.) I believe that the Universe…
WE COULD BE HEROES
“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with freedom.”— Bob Dylan I’ve been going to yoga again, once or twice a week. [Hot yoga, which is something I swore I’d never repeat after a brutal experience about…
LIKE A CHARM
I’ve been enjoying an etymology podcast lately: Words Unravelled, with Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris. He’s British and she’s American, and they both have a wonderful knowledge and love of language. Usually they start with a broad topic — e.g.…