I just got back from a wonderful beach week with my wife’s family in South Carolina. We ate well, laughed often, and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company for seven days. The only downside of the whole experience was getting there and back. Now in my younger days (as a single man), I used to enjoy a long road trip. It was a challenge to see how fast I could pound out the miles. I’d make each pit stop for gas,…
I’m currently getting ready to take a long-awaited family vacation. In just a short week, I’ll be joining all of the family (on my wife’s side) as we get together on the shores of South Carolina. All of my spouse’s siblings will be there (including her sister from Germany and cousins from far-off Norway) – about twenty-five people in total. We’ll be packed into two side-by-side beach houses, just steps away from the Atlantic Ocean, parking the cars in favor…
This Wednesday marks the 242nd birthday of our beloved United States. 242 years. That may seem like a long time, but in historical terms, our country is really just a baby. The Ancient Greeks lasted 350 years, the Roman Empire made it past 500 years, and the Egyptians flourished for over 550. Still, it’s a long time for this grand experiment in self-government. Our founding fathers were wise enough to build a framework that allowed for future change, and that…
If you’re familiar with my columns, then you know I live in Clear Spring, MD – a very small town in Western Maryland. How small, you ask? Well, as of 2016, we were at a whopping 350 residents (for those of you keeping score, that’s pretty small). As a matter of fact, we’re the smallest incorporated town in the county. It’s a quaint little village, with a main street, two stop lights, three schools (elementary, middle, and high) at the…
Ahhhhhh, summer. The kids are out of school, the days are long and warm, and it’s time to enjoy one of my favorite seasonal seafood treats – the Maryland blue crab. Although the “official” season started back in April (and the heaviest crabs won’t be around until late summer/early fall), nothing says summer like sitting down to a long table covered in brown paper, grabbing a mallet and sharp knife, and digging in to a pile of hot, fresh-steamed crabs,…
All over the four-state area, high school seniors are taking that inspirational walk across the stage in their caps and gowns, shaking hands with a school official as photos are snapped, and ending their high school careers with diplomas in hand. The future is full of promise and new beginnings – college for some, and work for others. But first – it’s time to party. For many high school graduates, that means only one thing. It’s time to head to…
Another summer vacation season is upon us. Millions of American families will pack up the car or hop on a plane and partake in the pilgrimage that is a vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. I myself have undertaken the journey many times as a youth and as a parent. I also worked for the company for a total of sixteen years (and continue to follow them closely via the internet), so I’d like to think…
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. A time to take a moment – however brief – and remember those who served in the armed forces and gave their lives as the ultimate sacrifice for their country. For me, Memorial Day is also a day of remembrance, but in a slightly different vein. My family (on my mother’s side) has deep roots in Western Maryland, Eastern West Virginia, and Western Pennsylvania. Many of my ancestors lived in the area around…
They say “April showers bring May flowers”. I don’t know what they say about rain in May, but for Maryland at least, this past week the mantra has been “enough already”. According to this month’s weather statistics, Hagerstown has received 3.55 inches of rain so far this month. I’d say most of that has come in the past week. The rain culminated in a freak storm this past Thursday that dumped an incredible amount of water on Southern Washington County…
As the temperatures rise, the rite of passage that is summertime grilling is gearing up for another season. I grill year round (as my grill is on my covered, wrap-around porch), but for those of you that don’t have that luxury, these recent sunny days have probably been filled with preparing for the first big kick-off of the grilling season, Memorial Day weekend. Now, I know that there are some clear battle lines regarding responsibility when it comes to grilling. …