I come from an extended family of Norwegian-Americans. It is a strong ethnic identity for me, even though I am fourth generation and there are some Swedish bloodlines in the mix. Three years ago I finally traveled to Norway with a friend from Chicago. We scheduled the trip so that we could be in Oslo … Continue reading
I’m Otto, Diane’s 1999 Volkswagon Passat. I just passed 210,000 in driving miles, and I’m feeling pretty good. Diane does not scrimp on care and maintenance, most recently my second new timing belt and gazillionth oil change. Most of our time is spent on the highway, and Diane’s not a maniac on the road. I’m … Continue reading
Yesterday I talked with a friend about some common challenges of the workplace. I shared an insight I had heard a long time ago from a coworker, a woman of Native American heritage. This insight has stayed with me for decades and has helped me deal with a certain kind of challenging person. It seems … Continue reading
When I was in my 20s, I learned to scuba dive. My diving partner sometimes called me the chicken of the sea. I earned that title when I declined to go cave diving with him, an adventure that would have required me to take my scuba tank off at depth — let’s say, 60 feet … Continue reading
