I didn't wake up and think, This will be a day I remember forever. I probably woke up and asked my dad to take me to Burger King for a sausage, egg, and cheese Croissan'wich. Because this was summer, this was middle school, this was 2003. Later that night, the setting was suburban. The occasion … Continue reading Newsletter #117: Rinse the Chlorine Off, Repeat
Category: Newsletter
Newsletter #116: Swings at Eternity
"Rhyne! Rhyne!" Of the conceivable pronunciations of my four-letter name, this is my favorite. My neighbor Tamara, more Appalachian than "Wagon Wheel" and sweeter than Western Carolina Ice Tea, waived me over from the edge of her above-ground pool. Having just finished my workday in the shop, I walked her direction across our shared greenbelt. … Continue reading Newsletter #116: Swings at Eternity
Newsletter #115: 1st Class Feats of Unnecessary Athleticism
My co-working space is serviceable. I can work, mostly in peace, and the coffee bar deals a rotation of single-origins. Come Friday afternoon, juicy IPAs await in the shared fridge, and overall, the vibes are pleasant. I've also made a friend, someone else who works in the space for a few hours each morning. Her … Continue reading Newsletter #115: 1st Class Feats of Unnecessary Athleticism
Newsletter #114: Nowhere to Hide, At Last
The drive to Children's Hospital was fifteen minutes, just enough time to forge 90 days of blood sugar readings. Pen in hand, riding in the backseat of my parents' car, I'd scribble fabrications into my logbook. 132. 289. 71. 320. 97. 120. 62. 205. 110. When my parents would ask their ten-year-old what he was … Continue reading Newsletter #114: Nowhere to Hide, At Last
Newsletter #113: Remembering the Unforgettable
On offer, I try to be useful here. Each week, I want to deliver a payload of helpful perspective. To that end, I can't afford to get lost on existential errands. But every so often, I find it necessary to unhitch the trailer and drive the damn truck to the top of the nearest mountain … Continue reading Newsletter #113: Remembering the Unforgettable
Newsletter #112: Only One Way to Find Out
It is what it is: I'm a sports guy. Some people appreciate William Blake. Others Tkaikovsky. I have Sam Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder's general manager (written about here, here, here). His team, my team, is one win away from their first NBA championship. If I didn't write about my team again, right now, it … Continue reading Newsletter #112: Only One Way to Find Out
Newsletter #111: Turn Off the Lights
While in medicine, I lived—and hunted—across an Alaskan summer. Day or night, I tracked illuminated targets. Guesswork eliminated, I shot well. And ate well. "Why's that so bad?" you might ask. "Isn't success what matters? Why not enjoy the sun? Get a nice tan?" If Where The Red Fern Grows—a book representing 100% of my … Continue reading Newsletter #111: Turn Off the Lights
Newsletter #110: I Owe My Neighbor A Six Pack
I didn't sleep much last night. Because every time I rolled over, I replayed Haliburton's pull-up jumpshot hovering in the air for what seemed like a blue-zone lifespan. Again and again, I watched the basketball float and spin and descend, then kiss gently off the rim and through the net. Pacers win. Thunder lose. I … Continue reading Newsletter #110: I Owe My Neighbor A Six Pack
Newsletter #109: My White Lotus Liberation
It's been a month since I finished White Lotus, Season 3. It's been a month since I started White Lotus, Season 1. Do the math. Not many days. Many episodes. No regrets. Since, I've watched other shows. I've also watched enough NBA playoffs to predict when the next commercial will be a Wingstop commercial. But … Continue reading Newsletter #109: My White Lotus Liberation
Newsletter #109: Everyone Wants to Individuate
Last week, as discussed, I got a tattoo on my forearm. And I was excited. Then, I went to Oklahoma City for the weekend. Soon enough, I found myself seated on a row amongst my family at my cousin's high school graduation. I glanced down the row. I saw a lot of forearms. Aside from … Continue reading Newsletter #109: Everyone Wants to Individuate
