Recent Columns

Thinking about my wife, who we all know is a babe. I’ve always appreciated this, along with other things, namely her heart. You also likely know that my wife is really, really famous. The Globe’s front page, Maclean’s feature, Global TV’s 16×9, Teasdale-Corti Award, G8 Summit speaker, advisor to the PM … these sorts of […]

We’re listening to the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe on the drive to school and the kids are into it and the dead wolf is at Peter’s feet and it’s just a moment before that line is spoken. I pause the CD and ask the kids what Aslan is now going to say. The girls are […]

All the puppies that in our care are now gone to the gardener, Paul, to find good homes for them. The decision was hastened when our cat ate a gecko lizard in protest of all the attention the pups were getting. I don’t have to tell you how much power the cat wields in this […]

... if America ever had greatness, if America ever was a modern republic to emulate, it’s largely because it’s been a nation united with rather different peoples and regions and perspectives.

So it’s 1:30 in the morning and I’m outside in my underwear up on the roof of the garage, then up on the hill by our outdoor watertank, flashlight in hand, looking for something, for I’m not sure what. I’ve heard something, some kind of animals yelping helplessly out here somewhere. Thought some animal was […]

It’s after the ceremony today and the bride and groom are at my place because they like what we’ve done with the stonework and flowers and all. They’re having photos taken when the groom, a long-time Ugandan journalist friend, asks if I’ll give a speech at the reception. It’s in two hours. When the moment […]

So my wandering cat is back, and while I’m relieved, there’s little doubt at this point that he’s playing with me, toying with the situation, making me go more crazy while I lay in my bed alone all these nights and wonder if I will somehow lose the children before morning. But I am not […]

Thinking of Hannah, our six-year-old. Like many Ugandans, this girl is built solid. She could probably kick both Liz and Jon’s butt at once if ever really put to the test. I foresee Olympic medals around her neck one day, which isn’t a bad retirement plan for mom and dad. Some of you know that […]

Take a minute, here, friends. Day 6 of Single Daddin’ It is for a new single dad whose wife died Monday, along with her unborn child who wouldn’t come out. Yeah, you read that right — wouldn’t come out. He’s now a single dad of three kids — 5, 3 and 2, and no doubt […]

Day 5 of Single Daddin’ It did not start well. I am so mad. I have a meeting at the university, so the kids got a ride to school. Was set up ages ago. I sent two friends with them. Plus the driver. Three adults for three kids for a 45 minute drive in a […]

It’s Day 4 of Single Daddin’ It and we’re at the dinner table. Jon shows up with dirty hands. He was working in the garden, he tells me. His garden is not tiny. It has cucumbers and onions and cabbage and beans and more. You should see the tomatoes, he tells me. Jon, in fact, […]

So, before tonight’s bedroom reading was finished, the kids asked me a pretty easy one, you know that question about the end of the world and when is it coming and will we (they) be around to see all the fireworks. Jon said he wanted to see Jesus come back in all his flaming glory, […]

Today’s question in my Diary of Single Daddin’ It relates to the cat. He’s Candy. He recently disappeared for six days. Went to his girlfriend’s or whatever. I thought of yet another cat funeral. We’ve had such in the past, with music and eulogies and real tears and all. On Day 2 of Single Daddin’ […]

The rabbits are the excitement of Day 3 of Single Daddin’ It. Got them yesterday. I am now the unofficial Best Dad Goin’. The rabbits (bunnies as the kids call them) are Sam and Pretty. Their cage is outside, between the kids’ two forts. Is this like, buying off my kids’ affection in my wife’s […]

So, this past week, we went to Jinja. Jean and myself and Hannah. We’ve fostered her for over three years and, with court approval, will now adopt. Had a 2:30 pm app’t at court. So we put Hannah’s best dress on her. I even wore a tie. We drove over an hour. Had a pizzeria […]