And it starts off with something simple . . .
The first time is usually the roughest. This is when the conscience speaks.
This is when the voice of better judgment steps in—but greed responds to silence them both.

The first time I ever took something that wasn’t mine was Continue reading →

Love:

I understand the cold war comes after heartbreak
however, the resurrection of love
shines brightest beneath the moonlight.

Night falls and if you say yes,
I could feel you,
or we could coincide like those who survive winter
and hold each other to create our own substance.
(Or warmth)

Relationships are an ongoing trade.
Wouldn’t you agree? Continue reading →

It’s raining out.

I love quiet gray mornings on the weekend.
Outside, the leaves are beginning to describe the season and change color. The streets are wet from an overnight rain and the sky looks like a thick blanket of soft gray cotton.

I need days like this. They remind me to stay inside and enjoy the little things like cinnamon toast with butter and a good cup of coffee.

Looking through the window behind my Continue reading →

(Stream of consciousness thought)

The sun came up over New York City and I was lost somewhere between the hours of missed sleep and a mild swarm of confusion. I am at an impasse and I am not sure which move comes next.

Taking my coffee time to the roof above Lexington Avenue, I felt the autumn breeze flow against me.
I faced the downtown buildings with a view of the East River to my left and the Brooklyn bound bridges in the distance.
I believe the sunrise was meant for moments like this. I watch the sunrise and see it as an opportunity to gain a moment of clarity. I think this is the best time to shed the wasted thoughts and prepare for a new day. And this morning; I chose to do just that. Continue reading →

As a boy, I would go to Temple with my family on this day.
Today marks the day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. On this day, my father closed his shop and he would put on his suit. He wore an unmistakable brand of cologne with an aroma that can never be forgotten. My mother would wear a dress, and she smelled from her perfume of choice.
My brother and I wore Continue reading →

What I remember most are the days afterward. I remember the worry and prayers for those who went missing, and the hopes that they would turn up alive instead of found in the rubble.
On September 12, I returned to the Continue reading →

After the last few days of intensity, I figured I could use something to break the tension, and what better way is there than to watch the sunrise with a cup of coffee?
I love these moments when the sky changes color and the birds begin to chirp. Most of the world is sleeping and the streets are quiet. I see this as a perfect time to enjoy my small town and share some words with God the Father to restore a semblance of peace.

This morning was cooler than the last few. Yesterday’s humidity broke with its Continue reading →

It gets hard sometimes—to sit and write. I sometimes lose focus on why I began this trip. But then something happens. Someone steps up and shares a piece of their life with me, and that’s when I realize, “Maybe I’m not alone in this crazy place.”
I began this journey years ago with a short blog entry that explained, “I doubt anyone will ever read any of this, but here it goes,” and so I went on.
I learned as I went and withstood the criticisms and jabs. I learned to disregard my Continue reading →

I sat in the back pew of an upstate church with the February sun leaking in through the stained glass windows. The room was cold and empty. The wooden benches were cold to the touch and the silence was loud enough to make my ears ring.
My hands were cold because the heat was turned down. My thoughts were scattered and my stomach growled because my breakfast was only half-portioned.
Outside, the sky was a brilliant shade of winter blue with long faded strips of Continue reading →

I believe in the healing power of a home cooked meal. I say there is nothing as heartwarming or welcoming as a table filled with plates of food, because food is love, and aside from the nutritional value is the beautiful gesture that comes during its preparation.
Some of my warmest memories are linked to great meals. Some of the memories are from crowded family tables and some are more intimate and candlelit. Like the time I made acorn squash, mashed with butter and sweetened with brown sugar. I plated this with chicken and served it as the first meal I ever prepared for the girl that became my wife.

Food is love . . .

After a long day at work, I had the kind of day that left my bones aching and my Continue reading →