This fall marks my 22nd year of parental participation in the great American tradition we call “back-to-school shopping.” Twenty-two years of buying mustard-orange pencils, blue-lined paper and slick 3-ringed notebooks. Twenty-two years of assessing and filling in wardrobe gaps – most likely to include new tennis shoes and a larger version of last year’s jeans. Twenty-two years […]

It’s been a rich few weeks. An encouraging, exhausting, and inspiring few weeks. On June 20th, I had the great privilege of enjoying the intersection of two families I love: the Story Warren community and our Charlotte community. The weeks leading up to Inkwell were exciting and hectic (Did we really sign up to do […]

It’s a strange phenomenon – to have a child who bears your resemblance. My son looks just like his dad. He carries the same posture and walks with the same cadence. Their childhood photographs are virtually indistinguishable. The origin of my daughter’s knack for messiness and love of all things creative and comfortable isn’t a mystery. […]

I shuffled through the pile of mail – the usual biodegradable white noise – that was to be skimmed and then promptly discarded. I paused. An unexpected, tiny piece of artwork was tucked in amongst the bills and advertisements. Elegant swirls applied by pen, not laser jet, adorned a simple beige envelope. A ragged-edged picture […]