23 and Me

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

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

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

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...
A Mother’s Timeless Love

A Mother’s Timeless Love

Yesterday, I reached a significant milestone in my life—I turned fifty. While I enjoyed spending time with family and friends, there was one person noticeably absent from this momentous occasion: my mother. And so begin the firsts of the firsts. Yesterday actually...
To the Moon and Back, Remembering Arlene Carlon

To the Moon and Back, Remembering Arlene Carlon

Arlene Carlon was born on August 30, 1933, in Brooklyn, NY, to Nicolas and Maria Fuccillo. She attended Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island and earned a degree from Marymount College in New York City. On October 12, 1957, she married the love of her life, Don Carlon,...