I started this particular blog series about lessons learned from Dona, but several lessons we learned together. What follows are three that stayed with us throughout our time together. These lessons came early in our relationship, from dates during the cool 80’s. As time progressed, we tagged these lessons by the three restaurants we had […]
For us guys trying to survive, I’m going to start cooking class with a cherry pie. And why not? We could start with how to boil water, but then what do you have? Hot water. My way you end up with: 1. A Cherry Pie 2. Survival Confidence My wife Dona use to make a pie […]
Another three short lessons learned from Dona on dating. In the last story, we had left my past self wondering if a girl friend-zoning one guy meant the same for all guys. I found that not to be the case. Now forward a bit in time. Common Dislikes Bring People Together Each college spring break, the […]
Invincibility is a story killer. The magic in fantasy or the technology in science fiction can be so awesome that nothing is able to stand against it. For storytelling, this is bad. Story needs conflict, a way to endure or overcome, a real chance of failure. If the hero is so endowed with greatness that […]
You’ve seen We Bought a Zoo? Remember when Matt Damon gets the lasagna? He goes home, crams it in his refrigerator, and shows the horror of the beast. Too much lasagna. Too much miscellany. Out of control. The refrigerator was overstocked and under-utilized. And the women were after him with the lasagna. This never happened […]
Dona was the consummate Christmas traditionalist. That is, of a sort. Her traditions weren’t the norm. She celebrated Christmas in unexpected ways, with customs refreshingly inspired. Learning was sure to follow. Act Like You Like It Even Though You Hate It I told my kids I was writing this blog, and two of them […]
Single Then The last time I was single I had no responsibilities other than attaching my future goals into the present. I was in school and in love. Once married, my responsibilities increased at a manageable rate through graduation, getting a job, building a career, having a child, and another, and another, and another. I […]
I’ve been thinking back on my life with Dona and tabulating the lessons I learned from her – too many for one blog. So I give you three lessons I learned before we even dated. The first requisite was: We meet. Don’t Be Too Quick to Judge Dona and I almost missed each other. And I […]
