I have a complicated relationship with Father’s day. My family, growing up, celebrated all of the Hallmark holidays — Grandparents day, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day. If it had the word day and a greeting card connected to it, my sister and I were expected to play our part…

It was a warm, balmy Friday evening in the fall of 2000, I was guarding a side entrance to the local football field so that people wouldn’t sneak into the game. Not interested in high school football at all, I was sitting in a lawn chair reading the novel Dune…

I have a dark secret that I need to finally share with the world. When people ask us if we named Son #3 after the character in To Kill a Mockingbird, I immediately smile and say yes. …

*Published with permission. My wife and I were at a gathering with our small group from church. More often than not, these groups were excuses to socialize with other adults and drink copious amounts of wine. …

*Published with permission Son #2 (S#2) identifies as a communist. I’m not very sure how they/we got to this point, but somehow my wife and I managed to raise a communist. Son #1 is a free spirit who likes to go to mountain climbing gyms while son #3 wants to…

I was talking to my therapist last year about defining oneself. It has taken me close to 40 years to really figure out what defines me as an individual. My father defines himself by having lived in Brazil. While that is an important part of my life, it doesn’t come close to defining who I am. Part of what defines me is my wife and four kids. My existence is one to take care of and provide for them. I have known this for a long time: since I met my wife and at the birth of each of my kids.

Growing up, I loved playing with Legos. I am of the generation that didn’t have themed Lego sets. We didn’t have Star Wars or Avenger or Friends Lego sets. We actually didn’t have any “insert the most current movie” themed Legos at all. …

When I was 12, I remember channel surfing through all 4 channels that we got: Rede Globo, Rede Manchete, Rede Bandeirantes, and SBT. If it was Saturday afternoon, I would usually land on Cassino do Chacrinha. For a few minutes, I would watch in wonder and awe at this ridiculous…