Jackpots and teachable moments

December 24, 2013

As of Dec. 17, the Mega Millions jackpot was a record $648 million, and if nobody hits it this time we could see the world's first billion dollar jackpot.It's a rare treat, but if you won it, your soul would not change but for myriad temptations.My 11-year-old son, Benjamin, and I talked about it, "Dad, if we won the lottery would you let me have a TV in my room?""Sorry, but the answer is no. And we may very well not get cable or Netflix, either. But, then again, since you're all on the honor roll (the four Herman kids), maybe we could make a contingency deal for cable and Netflix as ...

Advent marks season of waiting

December 20, 2013

When I was small, December dragged on forever, it seemed. Each day went by like the slow pour of molasses, and the closer it got to Christmas, the slower the days became.This, sadly, is not the case for me any more. The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve are some of the busiest for me, in part because of my chosen profession, but also because I have become an adult.Christmas, which used to be a season of wonder and delight, still is, but it's also a little crazy. No month moves faster than December. And that's one of the greatest differences between children and adults: While ...

The gift of small businesses

December 17, 2013

"Black Friday" is well behind us now, and there was even a day celebrating small businesses and encouraging consumers to purchase items from these entrepreneurs, especially those who are local.The business people whom I hope to honor today probably did not witness a "bump" in sales on Nov. 30, but they are certainly important, not to only me personally, but to the community of Hubbard where their businesses are located and which they support in many ways.They are all in the automotive and mechanical areas of sales and service, a realm in which I am only an infrequent visitor and ...

Mandela set example of acceptance

December 10, 2013

Every night, my family's dinner prayer begins with the words, ''God bless our family in America and in Africa, and help all of the people in the world who do not have food to get food.'' We maintain a positive connection between God, America and Africa for many reasons.Last week we said a prayer for Nelson Mandela and the universal dream for human rights. Mandela's struggle epitomized the way love and forgiveness can conquer hate. If you are human, then human rights matter to you.In the wake of Mandela's passing last week, we must not forget his epic stand for unity and forgiveness of ...

Grateful for Warren’s warmth, charm

December 6, 2013

For the Thanksgiving holiday, my wife and I returned to Chicagoland for what I've come to call "The Great Gratitude Tour of 2013." So much in our lives has changed for the better since moving to Warren, and our trip west helped show us, by contrast, how grateful we should be.After spending a harrying five days in the Windy City and its suburbs, we were all-too-ready to return to quieter, slower Trumbull County. Crossing the county line on our drive home, my wife exhaled a sigh of relief. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm thankful to live in our area - and to prove my ...

New Magi, new gifts arrive

December 3, 2013

Perhaps it is the daily choice of holiday classic stories that has caused me to ponder the plight of immigrants who come to our valley. Certainly, many others have recognized that the subplots and minor themes of the most poignant seasonal tales involve journeys, travels, relocations, and the encounters of natives to a region with aliens, both legal and illegal.I had such an encounter recently when I was in Boston for a convention.After the sessions one evening, I was waiting outside the lobby of a hotel for a local friend who was driving me to dinner. One of the hotel employees ...