It’s the last pitch thrown, the final swing of the bat, the ultimate run around the bases. It’s the sound of “Pomp and Circumstance” as children cross the threshold marking another milestone and parents weep conspicuously in their seats. It’s a ceremony commemorating years of achievements while peering off into…

Back in 2016, I went through Bruce Springsteen’s entire catalogue and did a daily review of one song per day. That culminated in the following rankings, which my friends at Casual Hoya were kind enough to publish. Since then, Bruce has released two new albums, one of which I consider…

My town’s mayor is running for reelection this year. We don’t agree on much politically. A few weeks ago, I wrote a social media post critical of the fact that she and her family maxed out their donations to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. The thesis of my post is…

“YOU, YOU GOT WHAT I NEEEEEEEED. BUT YOU SAY HE’S JUST A FRIEND, AND YOU SAY HE’S JUST A FRIEND, OOOOOOOOOH BABY YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!” The first time I heard these words, they were bellowed at top volume by a locker room filled with awkward 14 year old boys, their voices changing…

It was just another night at just another bar, one of hundreds of nights just like it in my twenties. I don’t remember the bar we were at in Philadelphia, or everyone I was with that night. I can’t even remember the emergency room my friends rushed me to that…

My relationship with Gerard Maglio nearly began with a brawl. Gerard and I were neighbors in the New South dormitory at Georgetown University, just two blocks from this church. Gerard was the tough talking, street wise guy from Jersey whose wit was quick and piercing. I was the oversensitive kid…

“You know, the weird thing about both your parents being dead is it means that you’re next. I mean, you know, obviously it’s not like there’s a wait list for dying. Any one of us could get run over by a Snapchatting teen at any moment. And you would think…

On Election Day, I got a text before the rooster crowed on the local farm. Melissa’s opponent was serving as a “challenger” at our polling place. That meant he would sit behind a desk next to our challenger and observe every voter that came in. In a small town like…

For the past few years, every day has felt like the 9th round of a bruising 12 round fight. You’re far enough into it that you’re badly fatigued and shaken but you’re far enough from the end that you can’t rely on adrenaline and momentum alone to carry you home…