A postcard from the trenches — This is my 36th and final year of teaching. I began my teaching career on August 29th, 1987. When I started teaching, Ronald Reagan was president. People went to places like Blockbuster to rent movies to play on their video cassette recorders (VCRs). The Apple IIe was making its way…

We live on opposite sides of the river — I am pretty sure my sister thinks I am going to Hell. My sister and I have been on opposite sides of the political divide for years, but that gulf has widened enormously in the past few years. I’m not sure if she has moved further to the right, if…

Here are nine things that will never happen in the U.S. — If you watch politics at all, and political commercials, in particular, you would think that the entire social infrastructure of the United States is up for grabs. To watch the political ads or read the campaign literature, you would think that soon federal agents will be coming door-to-door to confiscate…

“Cut the pizza into 4 pieces. I’m not hungry enough to eat 6.” — Yogi Berra — In my 36 years of teaching history and English and the years and years I spent in school myself, I have read thousands and thousands of quotes, sayings, and witticisms. Most are largely forgettable, and others will strike a note of familiarity when I see them in lists of quotations…

I propose a new list for the holiday calendar. — You’re going to think I’m kidding about this. Autumn is here and at the home improvement store where I work, they are rolling out the scary battery-operated mannequins for people to buy and put on their lawns for Halloween. In the back rooms of the shipping area, the Christmas stuff…

We’ll make them like it, whether they like it or not — For Americans, it is football season once again, and once again we are bound to hear the clamor over standing for the National Anthem. …

Let’s find out how average you are. — If you ask a person to describe someone, you are likely to hear them tell you that the person is just “average.” He’s average height, or he is average weight. He’s of “average intelligence.” He’s just the “average Joe.” Sometimes that person will describe themselves the same way. “Oh, I’m…

It’s been a long time — Dearly Beloved, It’s been a long time since I last communicated with you directly, over 2000 years now, and I thought I would take the time out to drop you a line and see how you’re all doing. I hope this letter finds you all well and in good spirits…

Look for these nine things, or “Karen’s kid starts today” — A few days back I had the experience of reading a story from a site called “Scary Mommy” titled “Panicking About Your Kid’s New Teacher? Look For These 8 Things.” …