By Mike

Misc for Monday, July 14

You are in for a real grim treat today, as you’re invited to join me in working through some of my grief over my father’s death this past February. Consider this your “trigger warning.” If you’re feeling sensitive to the topics of death or loss you may want to archive today’s letter and wait ’til…

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Misc for July 7, 2014

When I was avoiding writing this newsletter, fearful of committing to something I hadn’t yet found the true shape of, this was the issue that kept me from starting. A letter where I’m not sure what to say, where I haven’t squirreled away themed links ahead of time and Sunday night approached with a blank…

Misc for Monday, June 30, 2014

My name is Mike Morrow, and I am addicted to my phone and the Web. I’m not proud of it, but it’s true. More specifically, I believe that my proclivities toward Internet distraction are the result of a different affliction: that of FOMO, or Fear Of Missing Out. Wikipedia defines FOMO as: a form of…

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Misc for June 23, 2014

Hi, What a week! I’ve been so pleased (and, honestly, a little overwhelmed) by response to my first letter. Thank you. It’s all been so good, let’s keep the ball rolling and focus on good this week… When you receive this I’ll be past day five of single parenting, while J helps with some family…

Welcome to the Miscellaneum!

I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time, though I’m still working through exactly what to include here. And I’m (apparently) notorious for starting web writing projects. But like anything digital, I hope you’ll join me in considering this letter a work in progress, and I do appreciate your willingness to play…

Memorial Day

From my wife’s ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War, to those who fought in the Civil War. From my grandfather in Britain in WW1, to my cousins in North Africa in WW2, to my father during the Korean conflict, my father-in-law in Southeast Asia, my uncle and cousins in Vietnam, my brother-in-law in the…

First Day of School

Our preschool years are over. Earlier this morning I watched my daughter get on the school bus for the first time (she starts a new school today), and in about an hour I’ll walk my son to his first day of Kindergarten. We’ve fantasized about this day for years—the extra time that my wife will…

True Birthday Wishes

It’s that time of year when my loved ones remind me just how little they know about me: my birthday. “What do you want for your birthday?” they ask. “How could you not know?” I respond. It’s obvious! I want this book, or that gadget, or a new piece of cookware, or whatever. Except I…

Eight

My daughter, our first-born, turned eight yesterday and it’s got me thinking, particularly about how much my thinking has changed since 2004. I used to think about “the kind of daughter” I wanted to raise. How could I have ever dared to define another spirit? Instead, our daughter has brought us the spectacular gift of herself, beyond any dream or fear or expectation. This child is, thank God, utterly and fiercely herself. Even though many days her peculiarities fray me raw, I pray to never stop feeling grateful for and protective of them. I can forecast the (not so far-off)…

Tenth

Marriage, like anything worth having in life, takes work and luck and patience and forgiveness and more luck and, if you believe in that sort of thing, more than a little grace. It’s a life’s work and it’s never perfect, except for the times when it is, hopefully more often than not. Marriage is like parenting is like life: magnificent/difficult/wonderful/horrible/sanctifying. Our very presence in each other’s lives helps us strive to be the best versions of ourselves. I believe it should be available to everyone, but that’s probably a different post. I am so thankful for the circumstances that put…