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The job of parenting is a wonderful privilege but also an incredible responsibility. It’s amazing to see from birth how traits are passed down genetically that impact how our children look, what they...
A few days ago, I went to town to run some errands. And as is the norm, I expected to have difficulty finding parking. Nevertheless, I prayed and hoped that this would not be the case on this day...
With a long history in computing, I’ve had my share of heartbreaks from losing data, whether due to a power outage, a drive malfunction, or just failing to save documents in time. To avoid losing data...
A few days ago, my wife and I entered a store, and we chuckled as we observed a sight we had seen many times before – a man comfortably seated on furniture for sale, reading a book. We presumed, and I...
A few days ago, as I was preparing for travel, an unexpected opportunity arose to change my flight itinerary. This was a welcome change because of more convenient flight times and a layover city that...
Being a handyman has never been my forte. However, some household tasks require learning how to handle them to avoid unnecessary expense and inconvenience. One of those tasks is unclogging pipes when...
The sport of competitive running has been around for centuries, beginning in Ancient Greece in 776 B.C. It began with sprints, and then later on, marathons were added. Since that time, sprint races...
On your mark. Set. Go! From childhood to adulthood, these words are echoed in backyards, neighborhood streets, playgrounds, and athletic stadiums as runners wait in anticipation of the word ‘Go’...
During my early childhood years, my sister and I had some interesting sibling encounters. But when it comes to averting danger, one experience stands out. As the older brother, I was often held...
During my time as a cadet, we had night excursions where designated squads engaged in mock battles. Moving and operating undetected was paramount to gaining an advantage over the enemy. The best-laid...
Farming is not my forte. However, I grew up with a dad for whom farming was not only a lifeline but a hobby. As a result, I observed a particular mindset when it comes to gardening that applies to...
One of my treasured childhood memories is my time in the Cadet Corps. This was an elementary form of the military that emphasized discipline, civic pride, and toughness. Despite the various weekly...
During my teenage and young adult years, I was an avid sports fan. I would have my VCR (Video Cassette Recorder for the younger ones who have no idea what that is) set to record games and also buy the...
One of life’s special privileges is the opportunity to learn from another person’s teaching. This is so because while that teacher may have learned through many hours of experience, including...
When you look at our world, change is constant: the weather, the economy, governments, technology, and more. Sometimes the change is for the better; sometimes it is not. Sometimes it is gradual. But...
Due to recent travel, I experienced a radical change in weather, escaping a massive winter storm barreling down on the US east coast, to the welcoming, warm, tropical temperatures of the Caribbean. I...
A few days ago, I was driving and noticed a message pop up that said, ‘Change Oil Soon.’ I alerted the owner and offered to take it to get an oil change. Upon leaving the service center, I felt a calm...
Living in a tropical climate differs significantly from living in a temperate climate. The most obvious is the temperature and its fluctuations. I often chuckle at the weather reports in Nevis, for...
As a child, I feared the ocean, which kept me from learning to swim. I recall one occasion when I went to the beach with my dad, and the water was rough. My father encouraged me to step farther out to...
As a high school student studying Accounts, I remember preparing balance sheets and profit & loss statements, with the goal of ensuring they were balanced correctly. When that happened, I felt...
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, with an emphasis on goodwill, time spent with family and friends, and plenty to eat and drink, all in a festive atmosphere. However, for many, the most...
In my prior career as a software engineer, troubleshooting was an integral part of the job. This involved getting to the root of the problems so that issues could be addressed appropriately. Failure...
Traveling by plane is so commonplace in today’s society that when the slightest thing goes wrong, and our flight is delayed or canceled, we easily get annoyed and frustrated. We have come to expect...
Losing something you value is annoying and disappointing. But having such an item stolen from you is far worse. Several years ago, I suffered an unfortunate combination of both scenarios that has...
Sports is a billion-dollar industry in which much time, effort, and, of course, money are invested. As with any investment, a return is expected. The ultimate goal is to win. When a team or individual...
Phones, tablets, and laptops have become commonplace in our world today. It is expected that a person has one of these devices rather than not. Several years ago, while I worked as a software...
Math and science were my favorite subjects in school. I preferred subjects based on strict rules rather than those with exceptions from time to time. Hence, I shied away from subjects that required...
As a youngster, I was a particularly picky eater. My meat could not touch my rice, nor could my vegetables touch my gravy. My food items were required to stand on their own merit to gain my approval...
I remember, as a young boy, watching the popular game show at the time, ‘Let’s Make a Deal’, on TV. This show placed participants in positions where they would be tempted to take risks, giving up an...
Playing the piano is one of my favorite hobbies and has been for many years. Yet, I often found myself failing to make the progress I desired. That is, until I got a teacher who helped me discover bad...
Some people were blessed with good eyesight, often called 20/20 vision – a nod to the accepted measure for normal eyesight. Others, like myself, were not as fortunate, leading to corrective lenses or...
As one who wasn’t blessed with athletic prowess, I was deeply invested in the abilities my youngest brother demonstrated during his primary school days running track. I was always immensely nervous as...
One of the most anticipated milestones for many teenagers is obtaining a driver’s license. I was no different. I can recall learning to drive a small car in our yard (which was big enough that I could...
Recently, the Track and Field World Championships were held in Tokyo, Japan. The event concluded, as is customary with the relays. These relay races bring an added level of excitement...
During the early parenting years, when my children were pre-school aged, it was fascinating to see them engage in their interests. Everything for our daughter was Dora, the Explorer, while for our...
School days were a time filled with curiosity and exploration, as we tried things to see what would happen, influenced by our peers. Sometimes these influences were harmless, and other times not so...
A few days ago, I was on my way to an appointment with my daughter. Even though I knew the way to the destination, I decided to use the GPS to see how much time it would take to get there. Based on...
I was never blessed with athletic ability. As a result, from my days at primary school, I did not look forward to the second semester, also called the ‘sports term.’ It was the time when we would be...
One of the most challenging aspects of moving from a tropical Caribbean island to an area with a temperate climate is adjusting to winter weather. As a college freshman, I struggled with the extra...
Growing up on a Caribbean island has its share of privileges and pleasures, such as great weather all year round, beautiful beaches, a tranquil environment, and a pollutant-free atmosphere. But one of...
A few days ago, I was driving with my son in the front passenger seat. This wasn’t unusual. But what was different was that we were away from home, navigating streets that he was not familiar with...
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo devastated the island of Nevis, as well as other islands in the Caribbean and cities on the east coast of the United States. This Category 5 hurricane was one of the most...
Have you ever struggled with the feeling that you’re just not good enough? You’re not smart enough? Not handsome enough? Not beautiful enough? Not articulate enough? Just falling below some perceived...
As a wide-eyed freshman in college, I was eager to do exceptionally well. It was my goal to graduate with a perfect 4.0 GPA and hopefully be the valedictorian. Unfortunately, my very first class...
In the spirit of fun, friendship, and adventure, my wife and a few of her friends planned a girlfriend’s trip which would take them to a small town in the mountains of North Carolina. This made...
Years ago, my family decided to tackle a jigsaw puzzle for our family night activity. Our children weren’t thrilled with the idea, but they joined in anyway. There are many approaches that one can...
Do you have childhood memories that you could never forget? These memories have a way of shaping and impacting our lives. One such memory for me was seeing my dad draw the plan for his house. I...