This October, Think Blue

(as appearing in The Good Men Project) Today, Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins. Millions of women will take to the streets and the airwaves to share their stories. With pink ribbons affixed, tattooed and emblazoned, they’ll give voice to the memory of those lost and lift up the survivor. And it won’t just be women …

Compliments, Excepted

As I made my way to an aisle seat for my synagogue’s services, I noticed how my suit jacket hung so far from upper thigh. How I had to keep tugging at my belt to keep the pants from becoming low riders. Hmm, I thought, need to get this taken in. My normal anxiety of …

My Mother, The Refrigerator

Hmm… 10pm… time for my midnight snack. What to eat? Cold chicken? Leftover spaghetti? A quick index finger through the peanut butter? “Blueberries.” “Or better yet… just a glass of water. You’re on a diet… at least, you were on a diet.” This had better be a dream because my mother’s voice seems to be …

Trash Talk

As I cleaned up from another teenage get-together, I scanned the room. Half-filled water bottles, crumpled napkins, smudges and sprinkles on everything, and everywhere. What’s a dad to do on a Friday night in the frosty suburbs? On a perpetual diet of greens and protein shakes, I avoided the temptation of dragging my finger across …

The Spin Cycle

An innocuous email. A simple request. What could be so bad? “Looking to burn off those latkes from Chanukah? Join us and other fellow congregants for an afternoon of spinning.” My mind began to turn. The idea intriguing. I mean, I did consume bushels of potatoes over the holidays. Why not bite? So, with mind …

Pink Ribbons and Blue Balls

I stood at the finish line, waiting for my daughter to come flying through, covered in sweat and a dusty rainbow of colors. She was running a 5K in support of pediatric cancer, joyously pelted by volunteers with washable pastel paint. As I watched the various runners stumble home with victorious chants cascading through the …