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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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.

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Bubbles Up

We just passed the three month anniversary of my brother's passing and, to quote the late Jerry Garcia, "I want to know, where does the time go?"

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Greg Carlon: Simply the Best

On Sunday, I was getting ready to go for a run through Waveny park here in New Canaan when my mother asked me, "Michael, are your shoes tied?"

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You Can't Rush the Sunrise

I'm a morning person. Dracula is more of a morning person compared to most of the people I know, which I suppose is fortunate for me.

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Living Life at Slack Tide

The first sign that my emotions weren't regulating well today was when I started to cry while listening to a Jimmy Buffett song. Seriously, who does that?

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Farewell, Roo Roo

I've known this day was coming for a very long time — it's quite rare that golden retrievers live to almost sixteen years of age, though our Reilly has.

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Living in the Moment

Met fans will recount the 1986 season the way some people might recount the day they got married. We had waited so long for a World Series title.

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