Little Big Moments

April 10 is National Encourage a Young Writer Day. Kristin Ward, a YA author, created this holiday, but I don’t think one needs to have any publication credits to participate.

On April 1, my wife and I took our kids to New York City for their spring break and met Steve from Minecraft. Actually, we met 50 Steves at once.

Dr. H. Rutherford Turnbull died last week on March 17. I was one of the many who admired his advocacy and legal scholarship for people with disabilities.

I love the Chatham Rabbits’ new album. While I am not a music critic, I recognize the lyrical brilliance of Sarah and Austin McCombie.

This Thursday night is the first full moon in March, the so-called Worm Moon because this time of year earthworms appear out of soil to the delight of robins and mud-mucking toddlers. Spring is all around us.

Pedro Sáenz, a professor of applied mathematics at UNC, led the research team who proved that bubbles don’t just rise but move sideways, which Sáenz poetically described as “galloping.”

News of Michael Jordan’s love letter to his high school sweetheart recalled the confession of writer Wallace Stevens: “Some of one’s early writings give one the creeps.”

After three days sick with the flu, my oldest son was well enough to venture outside for a brief walk. “Breathe the fresh air,” I exclaimed to him and comically exaggerated my inhale with a huge “Ahh!”

In Icelandic, gluggavedur (gloo-ka-veh-durr) literally means “window weather,” referring to conditions that are only enjoyable when viewed from inside your home.

On weekdays, before and after school, my neighborhood becomes a raceway for electric scooters. Middle schoolers whiz down sidewalks, dart into grass to avoid pedestrians and dogs, then zip across the streets. Hopefully, they are checking for oncoming traffic. I’m happy to report that they all wear helmets.