Welcome to the X.

My wife and I are headed to Chicago to visit our son, daughter-in-law, and our youngest granddaughter. The last time we were there, my daughter and her two girls came with us.  When I told my nine-year-old granddaughter that we were going to Chicago, she…

A friend recommended the work of Yung Pueblo, the pen name for author and philosopher, Diego Perez. One of his books, Clarity and Connection, is a constant companion. It’s easy to just flip to a random page and read words that seem to find a…

Routine is comfortable. ​ Knowing what the day will hold makes life easier because you’ve already mapped out what to expect and what you’ll need. Yeah, routine is comfortable.​ But as you’ve heard me say at least a billion times, we cannot grow while remaining…

Getting back into a routine after being away for almost three weeks has been a challenge. As part of my regular workout regimen, I include an hour of Pilates each week. This morning was my first time back on the reformer, and to add insult…

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of travel. Seeing new places, and dipping your taste buds into the foods and drinks of different cultures. While I truly enjoyed wine tastings in my younger days, I recognize that I just don’t have the…

Walking the streets of Amsterdam, Hamburg, Bilbao, or Lisbon, there is a plethora of street art. It can be found everywhere. The expression of art in pencil, marker, paint, or tile brings unexpected beauty. The question is, while viewing grand plazas, monolithic cathedrals, castles, and…

Our first destination was Amsterdam, where we enjoyed an excursion through the canals. It was beautiful and interesting. Seeing the many houseboats along some of the canals was eye-opening, and the hooks affixed to the tops of tall, narrow homes—used to haul up furniture and…

Certainly, patience is a great tool to carry in every aspect of life. As I shared in Part 1, it helped me get through the Frankfurt Airport. Knowing our trip would begin in Germany, I decided six or seven months ago to learn a little…