Rite of Passage

Yes, Emma is the last 13-year-old on Planet Earth to acquire a cellphone. A cellphone that is, by the way, a lot nicer than mine. There's something wrong with that.

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!

"Next to me in the blackness lay my oiled blue steel beauty. The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive. Gradually, I drifted off to sleep, pinging ducks on the wing and getting off spectacular hip shots."




When I was about Joseph's age, my sister, brother, and I shared a BB gun. Our parents taught us how to use it, and turned us loose on the world. Those were the days. Here's Joseph, in our makeshift shooting gallery in the back yard. He's a pretty good shot. We'll have to scout around for some woods where he can get better practice.

Peace and Quiet on the Cooper

At Mepkin Abbey, in November