Joseph B. Walker

What are dads for? According to at least one respondent in a not-so-scientific survey, they exist for one reason and one reason only: “To take out the trash.” Of course, other respondents — children ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old — had different ideas when the question was posed as part of [...]

John is one of those neighbors.  You love the guy. You’re so glad you know him. You just wish he didn’t live next door. Not because he’s unpleasant or anything. He’s the nicest guy in the world. But he is so meticulous in the way he maintains his yard and garden that he makes everyone [...]

I am easily confused. I don’t know if it’s an age thing or an IQ thing or just a “me” thing. But I read stuff or I see stuff and I get confused. Like the other day. I was walking along a big city street when I came upon a beautiful, green, well-kept little park. [...]

To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what I’ll be doing this Memorial Day. I’m pretty sure a televised ball game, a couple of freshly grilled hot dogs and comfort – lots of comfort – will be involved. I’m sort of big on comfort – on Memorial Day and just about every other day of [...]

I love people. I really do. I understand that as a journalist I’m supposed to be cynical and mistrustful and expect the worst of my fellow travelers on this planet. But my experience has been that people are basically good, and if given half a chance they will usually do the right thing in most [...]

There were a lot of things that first attracted me to Anita: her sharp, clear mind. The depth of her soul. Her profound spirituality. Her prodigious wit and delightful sense of humor. Are you buying any of this? OK, I’ll admit it: I was first attracted to Anita because she was … well … hot. [...]

By any measure, Cameron Lyle is a strong man. Really strong. Certifiably strong. Lift-the-back-end-of-a-Volkswagen-by-himself strong. You know … strong. Cameron is on the track team at the University of New Hampshire. He’s not one of those sleek sprinters or wispy distance runners. No, sir. He’s a weight man. For four years he’s been throwing 16-pound [...]

This is going to be another one of those Boston Marathon stories. But it isn’t going to be another one of those Boston Marathon stories. Because my friend Gayle was there — even though she wasn’t … you know … there. “My husband, Ron, was running in the marathon,” Gayle, who is not a runner, [...]

 America is mourning. Again. More senseless violence has occurred. More innocent lives have been lost. More media time has been devoted to asking questions for which there are no answers: Why? What provokes such actions? How can we explain it? When will it end? I don’t know about you, but to me it seems as [...]