Category Archives: The Everyman Chronicles

Open Letter to A Puppy: Sweet & Sour


My clan,

Sorry the humans got all up in your face at the dogpark today. I know you wanted to see what the fuss was. Or at least sniff its crotch.

You see, a new puppy, Whiskey Sour, was introduced to the park and world, and she can’t be around you for a few months. But she can meet bipeds.

I know, I know: Irony is the most abundant element in the universe.

But you should see that face! Jadie, you may recognize the retriever in the golden coat; Charlie, you’re gonna love having a fellow low-rider — for a few months, at least.

It’s crazy, but there was a palpable buzz about a new member of the woof pack. Whiskey came swaddled in her mom’s arms (and a zippered satchel meant for toy breeds).

But it wasn’t just the glow of being new that drew the humans near. We congratulated mom, shook dad’s hand. All that was missing were cigars.

Because you two — and the millions like you — are true family to millions like me.

I know there is an unfathomable gap between biological parenting and rearing fang and claw. But you and yours before are all the metric I have.

And when the sun begins to stretch shadow fingers on the backyard, and you yawn awake from a summer nap, this summer nap, to await a chef’s special of kibble, mush and salmon oil, you are just the metric I need. Or need to fill.

How I wish I could convey the sense of purpose you do without thought or intent, which is probably why it takes. I have known many who needed to feel needed and never did.

But you. You are instant care, instant need, instant worry.

Instant presence.

Forgive your old man. I’m still a little tipsy on whiskey sour. Ignore my wonderings about the real difference between two and three.

You And Your Inner Song


On September 10, 1957, photographer William C. Beall from the Washington Daily News was assigned to capture a parade organized by the Chinese Merchants Association. While his focus was on the procession, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a young child captivated by the performance of the Chinese lion dance. The little one ventured off the sidewalk to get a closer look, only to be intercepted by a tall and kindhearted police officer who patiently explained that it was not safe to cross the street in the midst of the parade.

“Suddenly, I saw the picture, I aimed my camera, and I clicked,” he would recall.

The resulting photograph captured a moment of childlike innocence and wonder, earning Beall the Pulitzer Prize in 1958.

Now Comes The Work

(Photo by Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The Democrats have wrapped up their convention, and the ticket is set. Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have their work cut out for them. They’re facing a divided nation, and the path ahead is rough. There’s no room for wasted breath or wasted time.

Here are five things they must do now:

anes 1. Speak Plainly and Truthfully
People are tired of polished speeches. They want the truth, even when it hurts. Harris and Walz need to talk straight about the state of the country.

Don’t sugarcoat it. America’s in a mess, and everyone knows it. Acknowledge it, and then lay out a clear plan to fix it.

They need specifics: raise the minimum wage, support unions, and implement a fair tax code. Expand the Affordable Care Act with a public option. Cap prescription drug prices. People need concrete solutions.

2. Show Up in the Places That Hurt
It’s easy to visit the cities where the votes are guaranteed. But Harris and Walz need to go where the pain is real. They need to stand in the rusted-out towns, the farms that have seen better days, the places that have been forgotten.

When they’re there, they need to offer solutions: invest in infrastructure, support broadband expansion, and provide grants to small businesses. They need to deliver real improvements. These communities have felt left behind for too long.

3. Focus on the Future, Not Just Trump
Everyone knows the mess Donald Trump made. Harris and Walz don’t need to keep telling us. What we need to hear is what they’re going to do next.

Focus on climate change with a Green New Deal. Create millions of jobs in clean energy. Push for universal pre-K, free community college, and student loan forgiveness. On immigration, outline a path to citizenship. Secure the border humanely. The future is about building, not just undoing the past.

4. Embrace the Working Class
The Democratic Party has lost touch with the working man and woman. Harris and Walz need to change that. Talk about jobs, wages, and dignity.

Show they understand the struggles of working hard and still barely getting by. Policies like job retraining, apprenticeships, and strengthening Social Security will resonate. Protect Medicare and pensions. The working class needs to feel like the Democrats are in their corner again.

5. Lead with Decency and Strength
The country needs leaders who can be strong without being cruel. Harris and Walz need to show they are those leaders.

Be tough when it matters, but never lose sight of humanity. Push for criminal justice reform. End mass incarceration. Hire minority cops. Mandate body cams nationwide. Rebuild alliances through diplomacy. Keep a strong military as a deterrent. Decency and strength must go hand in hand if they want to earn trust.

These things aren’t a guarantee of victory. Nothing is in politics. But if Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can do them, they’ll have done what’s necessary.

And in times like these, necessary is all anyone can ask for.