Mom
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Family
There are few people who have a better heart than my mom. She would protect the whole world from harm if it were in her power to do so. She made us feel safe and secure all throughout our childhood. She and my dad sacrificed a lot for their kids, and I appreciate it so much. It's an unpleasant fact that many, many people do not have such loving parents. I know I've been extremely fortunate. She'll never read this, but thanks mom!

P.S. Mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies you've ever tasted.

Father's Day
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Family
My dad has been a tower of strength - of body and character - his entire life. In recent years problems with his legs have slowed him down, and now the past few months he's been fighting a debilitating case of shingles.

Whatever I am today, whatever good I've done in this world, I owe to my parents. They provided me with a foundation firm enough to absord the terrible losses and disappointments I've encountered in my life. It hurts me to see my dad in a weakened state, because he will always represent that tower of strength and courage to me. Hopefully he'll continue to recover his lost vitality, and will someday soon be back to his old self.

Dad will probably never see this - none of my efforts to get him near a computer are likely to ever succeed. But even so, Happy Father's Day to the best dad a kid could possibly have...

Holidaze!
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Family
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
I'm knee-deep in last-minute wrapping at the moment - if it's gonna get done, I'd better get back to business. Hope everyone's fondest holiday wishes come true. Where'd I put that friggin' tape?!

Wish me luck...

mike

Giving Thanks
Mood:  bright
Topic: Family
There's something very comforting about family traditions, for me. I guess it has a lot to do with how crazy and dangerous and jumbled up the world is. So much fighting, so much irrationality and insanity out there. In a few minutes, I'll be heading over to mom and dad's and we'll have turkey and noodles and green beans and hot rolls, the same way we do every year. I'll gripe about the endless song and dance numbers they stick into the parade for television, even though they have nothing whatsoever to do with the parade. Dad and I will settle down to watch the football games, as we always do. Mom and I will debate whether it'll be worth fighting the hordes to go shopping for bargains Friday morning. And I'll know that this is my family, the place where I'll still be loved regardless of what grievous blunders I might make. My mom and dad are extraordinarily good and decent people - I am profoundly thankful that they're my parents, and that they continue to be in good health. I'm thankful that I won't be hungry, on this or any other day. I'm thankful that I've had the chance to do some very fun and exciting and rewarding things in my life, and that I have some very close and dear friends. Things certainly could be better for me, but that's always the case. In the big picture, I don't have it nearly so bad as I sometimes allow myself to think.

I'd better get moving if I'm to avoid missing out on the festivities. Hope all of you who happen to read this have a very happy Thanksgiving.

Mike

Dad's Day
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Family
My father is such an awesome human being. I can't even begin to explain the strength and inspiration I've drawn from him throughout my life. He overcame a childhood of crushing poverty combined with emotional and physical abuse to become the man I most admire in this world. Yeah, he can be a little crotchety, but you could scour the countryside and never find a more good-hearted, innately decent man.

He won't see this because he and my mom are technology-averse in the extreme - my efforts to bring them into the Internet age have gone in vain. Even so, here's to you, dad. I'm incredibly proud to be your son.