Dutch people go crazy for ice-skating. When a hard freeze starts, it’s a topic of casual conversation and serious news reporting. They know exactly the right conditions and the right period of time that’s needed for the right amount of … Continue reading
We’re in the midst of a hard freeze here in Ohio. For the past two weeks, we haven’t gotten more than a degree or two above freezing — and even those “spikes” in temperature were only for the briefest stretches … Continue reading
The last week of January was a big week for our family back in 2003 — a week of miracles and transformations and shock. Looking back, eighteen years later, I can hardly believe that so much happened in such a … Continue reading
I recently finished reading Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s autobiography, Infidel. I heard about it from my friend Joe. But my real interest in the book came from my years of living in the Netherlands. Our Dutch years fell squarely during the time period … Continue reading
Smoke! Fire! An alarm rings out. Someone makes an emergency call to the local fire department. Still you can’t wait inside the building. So you make your way to the exit and reach the door. Does that door swing inward … Continue reading
Our family left Amsterdam on July 10, 2012. It’s crazy to look back at the group portrait of the friends who came to see us off at the airport. We arrived in Cleveland later that same day. And there, too, … Continue reading
The word “Ding” was written in black Sharpie on a silver piece of duct tape. The tape stuck immediately above a doorbell. And the doorbell was installed immediately above the walk-up window to Marsha’s Diner. My kids and I were … Continue reading
Our family would have been in Europe right now. Marci and I announced it to our kids on Christmas morning. The three and a half weeks immediately following Elliot’s graduation were to be a time of travel and celebration. We … Continue reading
I just finished reading John Green’s book, The Fault in Our Stars. It’s written for a younger audience, and its moment was probably about seven years ago. But I was having a hard time finding something interesting on Overdrive or Hoopla (digital … Continue reading
I just finished reading Dina Nayeri’s book, The Ungrateful Refugee. It was published around this time last year, and it’s been on my list for even longer than that. The subject matter — refugee resettlement in Europe and North America — is … Continue reading