Personal Essay
Why Do I Keep Yelling at My Kids? A Father Tries Not to.
I didn’t grow up with a lot of yelling. Any decent therapist would hear that and say, “We have to stop now. Enjoy your remaining […]
When Did It Become So Hard to Make Friends?
I was on the T headed to one of my favorite restaurants in Boston when I found myself thinking about the last time I ate […]
The Beer-League Ski Race That Became My Unlikely Salvation
We were in the bland hinterlands of Greater Boston, skiing along the ho-hum Leo J. Martin Golf Course—otherwise known as the worst golf course in […]
My Sister Died Before I Could Understand Her. Now I Finally Do.
In the car heading west to Aunt Dot’s funeral in Chicago with my sister, Nancy, I’ve been raging—or not raging, exactly, but going on at […]
I Took My Kid to a DIY Craft Studio in Natick and We Both Left Happy
This is part of a winter series on things to do indoors in Boston. On a Sunday that was too wet to go out and too […]
I Tried a Bhangra Dance Class and My Dad Moves Didn’t Stand a Chance
This is part of a winter series on things to do indoors in Boston. On a typical winter weeknight, the Dance Complex in Central Square buzzes […]
I Fought Orcs in Boston and My Arms Have Never Been So Sore
This is part of a winter series on things to do indoors in Boston. I’m standing next to my friend on adjacent towers in a fantasy […]
I Made Dumplings at Mei Mei and It Was Worth Being a Third Wheel
This is part of a winter series on things to do indoors in Boston. Walking down Old Colony Avenue after sundown used to be a […]
I’m a Rapper Who Starred in “The Town.” Then Addiction Nearly Killed Me.
Coming to at 3 a.m. after blacking out halfway through snorting a line is an unpleasant cardiac experience, to say the least. And it was […]
I’m 57 and I’ve Never Had a Cast. This Is My Midlife Crisis.
Over the summer, I was about to jump down from the second row of some bleachers—except I didn’t simply jump. I first had to pause […]
My Father Got a Green Card for Free. I Came to America and Got Stuck.
Two suitcases, $400 in traveler’s checks, and a two-year plan. That’s what I arrived at Logan Airport with in 1999, leaving behind my family and […]
It’s Bad Out There. Can a Luxe Boston-Specific Massage Help?
Let’s face it: Boston moves fast. Between traffic-snarled commutes, interminable workdays, and packed schedules, it can be hard to find time to truly reset. Enter […]
My 35-Year-Old Son Is Learning to Drive. It’s Complicated.
The text came from my son Sam, who is 35 years old: Can we practice driving again? He lives in the suburbs with his wife, […]
Confessions of an Accidental Stay-at-Home Dad
“What happened?” The front-desk attendant at urgent care was curious. “I cut it by accident,” I said, holding up my pinky, wrapped in a bloody […]
My Dad’s Last Day in Court
The earliest signs of my father’s cognitive slip dovetailed with his retirement. He’d somehow managed to keep it together for his clients until his very […]