Category: Essay

Remember The Main

July 18th, 2021

Gone, but not forgotten

The marquee is blank now at The Main Art Theatre.

It was their popcorn, it still haunts my dreams. 

Yet another victim of progress and pandemic, The Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak, Michigan has closed for good … or bad.

Read More…

Hammerin’ Hank

January 22nd, 2021

I’ll always remember that evening in April, 1974.

My 26 Hank Aaron baseball cards, saved from when I was his biggest fan.

The text came in from my cousin, “RIP Hank Aaron.”

“Damn,” was all I could respond. Read More…

Beginnings and Endings

January 2nd, 2021

Arriving and departing, joy and sadness over 72 hours.

Judy Watson and her great-granddaughter Avery Yau.

Our sweet, sweet granddaughter entered our lives on Sunday night.  

Her great-grandmother — my wife’s mother — left us on Wednesday night. Read More…

A Perfect 10?

June 9th, 2020

Some chemo, a transplant, a few laughs

My doctor’s notes from this day, ten years ago.

My life ended ten years ago. But it’s okay; I got over it.

That morning, I guest-lectured in a friend’s class at MSU, had some pizza with her husband, played a quick round of golf with him, then at 3:30 pm, June 9th, 2010, my doctor dropped a death sentence on me.

His sentence was, “This is not a death sentence.” Read More…