Missing the mark

When I was in college, I signed up for an archery class. It was the last half of the last semester of my senior year, and I needed one PE credit to graduate. I picked archery because, honestly, it seemed like the phys ed class with least amount of actual physical exertion. To my surprise, … Continue reading Missing the mark

Summer break

Today was the last day of school. It feels a little anticlimactic: the kids still had online lessons to complete, classwork to turn in. My older son graduated from 5th grade a week ago with a car parade past the school, 24 teachers and staff members (the maximum allowed) standing a careful six feet apart … Continue reading Summer break

Harbingers

The lilac is about to bloom. My yard is a mess. The lawn is mostly crabgrass and clover, with a few dozen hyacinths that have escaped the confines of their beds. The dandelions will rear their heads later. The patio furniture is covered in yellow pollen—not that we have a patio, exactly, just a flat … Continue reading Harbingers

Sijak

Last week, I was sparring a black belt in Taekwon-do. Let me first say, sparring is the thing I find most intimidating about the sport. I like practicing forms, I like breaking boards and kicking bags, but facing another person? A person who is unpredictable and fast and (presumably) kind and not actually intending me … Continue reading Sijak