From experiences on the streets of the notorious Badlands of Kensington to the emergency room to rehabs to homeless shelters to prisons to her own house, Deb Delp has the credibility of a frontline soldier in the raging battle against drug abuse. The nurse, mother, teacher, coach, author, and anti-drug crusader had a warning… Continue reading Don’t Be An Ostrich
Happy Birth and Deathday
I survived another birthday yesterday. I have always thought it would be supremely ironic to die on my birthday. Shakespeare did. April 23rds, 52 years apart. Little did I know, however, that a phenomenon known as the “birthday effect” exists. I found out because I googled “people who died on their birthdays.” Statistically, people are… Continue reading Happy Birth and Deathday
Write Again
After mid-October, when I attended a Push to Publish, I put aside writing for a while. It took time to get over the shock of not being immediately offered a six-figure publishing contract, a movie deal, and a Pulitzer Prize. My novel, Internal Lockdown, garnered rave reviews from my wife, my sister, and a friend, so… Continue reading Write Again
A 3-Year-Old View
Every Wednesday is Dom Day. At least for a semester. Once again this morning I picked up a three-year-old in Manayunk and drove him to daycare on the campus of Montgomery County Community College to help out my son and his girlfriend, as she completes her nursing coursework, and he goes to work. Wednesdays this… Continue reading A 3-Year-Old View
#34
I had a ticket to Roy Halladay’s no-hitter in the playoffs against the Reds in 2010. A stomach virus flattened me that morning, however, and I had to give the ticket away. I watched baseball history from the discomfort of my family room, a bucket next to me. But I didn’t miss a pitch. I’ve… Continue reading #34
Control
Control was the topic of a meeting–as in support group meeting–that I recently attended. All who deal with a loved one’s addiction eventually realize that they have zero control over the addict. The problem is some won’t admit it. It is one thing to intellectually accept the thoughts of the Serenity Prayer. It is quite… Continue reading Control
The Italian Query
Inquisitive students sometimes asked what my nationality was. When I said Italian, some asked if I knew anyone in the Mafia, especially when The Sopranos was at its height. Sigh. To my knowledge, I do not and never did know anyone in the Mafia, although I suspect that my father knew a few back in the… Continue reading The Italian Query
Writing
Since I went to a Push-to-Publish a couple of weekends ago, I’ve taken a step back from my writing. At the PtoP I did not get an immediate six-figure deal and movie option for my novel. Obviuosly people just do not recognize talent when they see it. As our president would say, “Sad”. When I… Continue reading Writing
View of a Vigil
The big question at the counter-vigil was, of course, “Did you get one?”, referring to the pro-Nazi mailing that some had received in the mail. I had not. But I saw them in the media. Once again the Valley was featured for negative reasons. The occasion was on-the-spot-live reports-satellite vans newsworthy. The mailings were composed of… Continue reading View of a Vigil
Homecomings
By accident, or fate, three consecutive days last week brought my past into the present with a personal “Roots”. On Saturday, I attended my old high school’s first Hall of Fame dinner to honor the first inductee into the Archbishop Carroll Hall of Fame, Barry Kirsch. It is not an exaggeration to say that my… Continue reading Homecomings
The Q-View 