Monthly Archives: February 2025

I had a strange bout of insomnia last night. After going to bed at 11 (very uncharacteristic of me), I woke up at 2:05, unable to fall back asleep.

After an hour of tossing and turning, I opted to get up and watch a little TV in the family room. My first mistake was in sitting in a chair. My second mistake was in assuming that I would likely not fall back asleep.

On the second count, I did eventually drift back to slumber. If I were a British cartoon there would have been a thought balloon above my head saying, “zed zed zed”.

Flash forward several hours. I woke up not too unrefreshed but unable to turn my head. Stiff neck and shoulders. No fun. I found a Thera-gun massager which my teenage son generously volunteered to use on my aching back and neck. Part of me believes he was intrigued with this toy. Part of me wonders if he was truly trying to be compassionate. And the rest of me thinks he might have just wanted to abuse his old man for sport.

After a few minutes I thanked him for his time. I felt a little better.

That’s when he reminded me that he has my DNA by flashing the following at yours truly:

And I reminded him that I’m his dad by giving him a tip.

“Don’t swim in shark infested waters, son.”

The fun never ends.

Meant to post this earlier but things got away from me.

The alleluia verse from the Mass for the Purification jumped off the page of my missal at me.

“Senex Púerum portábat: Puer autem senem regébat. Allelúia.”

“The old man bore the Child, but the Child was the old man’s King; Alleluia.”

The verse is from Augustine, not a Psalm as is typical. That’s probably why it struck me instantly. Nonetheless, it is striking.

Then I went home and took down my Christmas decorations.

Bring on Lent!

43 years ago today, my life changed in an instant. A fire raged through our home. I was four years-old.

I was reminiscing with my older sister on the phone last night about this. We do this every year. She saved my life. I always call her on this day and tell her the following.

“I woke up this morning in my own bed in my own house. Next to me was my wife. Our dog was curled up with his head under my hand as if he was hoping I’d pet him in his sleep. My beautiful children slept soundly in their beds. My back hurts a bit. It usually does. When you threw me from the second floor, well, we know the damage that did to my spine. But I wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you, Susan.”

And she always laments that she couldn’t save everyone. “Why couldn’t I find them?” she asks. It’s been 43 years. We know the answer. A true fire is black. We couldn’t see for the smoke had filled every cubic inch of space.

But a better answer might be this.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the Lord!

He wanted you and me and the siblings you did save and Mom and Dad here on this earth. And the three He called home? He wanted them there.

Never forget that I love you, my wife thanks you, our children thank you. You are my hero and I’m glad you were there that night because otherwise I wouldn’t be here today.