I’m Mark. I write about people, places, faith, and everyday life. If you’re new here, these five essays are a good place to begin.
I had to set up a doctor’s appointment today because I could hardly hear out of either ear. The nurse asked me a bunch of questions and then asked, “What year is it?” This, I thought, was a really strange question. I asked her to repeat herself. “What year is […]
When I was a freshman in college, I was thrilled to learn that WrestleMania would be held on March 29 in Boston. I spent months recruiting friends to join me. However, as the event approached, my friends dropped out one at a time until I was the only one left. […]
This is one of the last photos I have of my father with his dear friend Bill Henry. It was taken three months before my dad passed away. The other photo is Bill speaking at my father’s service. Bill showed up for my father in every way imaginable. They met […]
May 28, 2012. That was the day my niece Anna and I became friends. She was two years, one month, and twenty-one days old. Until then, every time I saw her, she gave me the most quizzical look—as though I were visiting from another planet. Even before she was speaking, […]
In May 1892, in Poland, Józefa gave birth to twin daughters. One died that same day. Four days later, Józefa died. She was 36 years old. Six weeks later, the surviving twin, Ewa, died too. Years before, when Józefa’s son Anthony was born, his uncle by marriage, Jan Ziółkowski, appeared […]
Eulogy for Paul Anthony Lamberti (December 30, 1944 to October 18, 2023). Love you, Dad. I collected all the things people wrote about my father after he passed. Then, I put them into one of those word counters. The word most used to describe my father was “kind”. Next, was […]
I will now give you some diet advice free of charge. But first, a quick story. It used to be that I got a Butter Crunch ice cream on the way to the gym every other week or so. Then, it became once or twice a week. Then, three or […]
His major contribution to the world was not a set of aphorisms. He was born in a turdy barn, grew up in a dirty world, got baptized in a muddy river. He put his hands on the oozing wounds of lepers, he let whores brush his hair and soldiers pull […]
This kid buried his head on my shoulder. He was fast asleep. On the jet airplane. I wanted to say, “Hey brother, your father is on the other side.” But little Mexican boy was much too young to be my brother. Still, I wanted to say “brother”, as if I […]
As I got out of my car to get some milk this evening, I couldn’t help but notice the guy sitting in the car parked next to mine. He was staring at me. Why? I don’t know. The last time somebody stared at me was about a week ago. It […]
Who is the better golfer?
Who will get us first?
Who was the best lawyer?
Must've been all that chocolate milk he consumed the last few years
Al Horford headed to his first NBA Finals at age 35. In no small part because Horford, at age 35, is still damn good.
