Perpetual Break

Bean and Betsy chase around the house. Bouncing off the sofa, bunching up the runners when they slam on the brakes. The race is on again. Damn dogs have got it figured out. Play hard, snore louder. There’s a never-ending list of courses that I need to play. Yes, need is the correct word. I…

What if I can’t find the secret before it’s too late? I’ve looked for it, it seems, for decades. Maybe the secret is right in front of me and I can’t see it. Most likely, it is. I could ask for help. It’s important that I do this on my own. I’ve been working on…

What do you do when you find out that you have been working on the wrong problem for a long time? Looking at myself objectively, I don’t think I can do it. Frustrating. Get different eyes to look at the problem. How do I know they know? Now there are two problems. What a mess.…

The first shot of the morning, the tee shot. I’m stiff. Who has shown up today? The ball is in the fairway, not very far. Still, I look at my buddies with a smug expression. It’s important that I don’t suck in front of them. I’m considering getting fit for new irons. There is always…

I like hats. Playing golf, hats are a necessity. Often, I see a gentleman wearing many different kinds of fedoras. He looks like he was made to wear hats. Why do I feel self-conscious about wearing anything other than a baseball hat? At what point will I feel grown up enough not to care? I…

I have a small humidor that always baffles me when it comes to keeping the humidity stable. I don’t have a huge stash of cigars. Humidors at cigar shops intimidate me too. Too many choices, and I have no idea about all the different sizes, but I love the way they smell. I can’t smoke…

A golf swing is like going to church. You gotta have faith that it’s going to work out. Then the demons creep in: “You’re going to screw this up.” Every YouTube video I have watched is screaming in my ears. Elbows in, tempo, rotate. Then it happens. I hit the shot like I imagined it.…

My daughter is coming to town tomorrow. I’m a little anxious. I’ve roasted chicken this way countless times. It’s been a while since I have seen her. Dana is going to vacuum till I go crazy. Adult kids judge. I don’t want to care, but I do. Am I afraid of my children? It seems…

Some years ago, my wife and I rescued a pit bull, Hank. Then there were two more. Now we had a pack of pit bulls. Our neighbors were terrified. Time went by, and so did our rescues. My youngest daughter moved home. She has a French bulldog. Bean. He becomes the center of the universe.…

I’m a hairstylist. I stand in front of a mirror all day. My uniform consists of a polo and chinos or jeans. Shoes are usually running shoes or athletic. They are ugly. Recently my partner decided we needed to spruce up. My workstation is spartan. There is nothing on the walls but the mirror and…