How to use improv when put on the spot — The guy at the baseball game got a big surprise. During a break in the game, he appeared on the giant scoreboard with a plate of cookies superimposed in front of him. Inspired by Cookie Monster from the children’s TV show Sesame Street, the “Cookie Cam” scanned the crowd, selecting…

His inspirational birthday performance showed the power of music — If I were to make a list of miracles I’ve witnessed, Tony Bennett’s final performance would rank in the top five. I’d always been aware of Tony Bennett, who died last week at the age of 96. …

July Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Play” — Turtles like to play outside, too. People take their dogs out to play in yards, parks, and beaches. But dogs aren’t the only animals who enjoy fresh air and exercise. When the weather is warm, I take my box turtle outside for some playtime. She doesn’t play fetch or Frisbee, of course. …

A clueless teacher — It wasn’t our usual plump, middle-aged-woman music teacher sitting at the desk at the front of the classroom. It was a young-ish man. A sub. Cool. We were used to our bland fifth-grade music curriculum. No instruments to play. No dancing. …

September Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shadows” — Even when apart, hearts remain connected. I saw my pothos plant’s shadow on the kitchen island. Many of the pothos leaves are heart-shaped, but I don’t usually think about it. Seeing the leaves’ shadows makes their heart shapes more apparent. These shadows make me think of friends and family who are far away. Our hearts remain…

Mine had them all — I’ve heard plenty of complaints about bosses. Over the years, friends have shared their various boss beefs: “He has a horrible temper.” “She doesn’t listen.” “She’s psycho.” Rarely do I hear glowing comments about the people at the top. It’s a good bet that your boss has a big impact…

Every day walking to and from work, I pass a pharmacy parking lot. With only a nine-car capacity, it’s often crammed. It’s an asphalt slab with painted lines and a split rail fence bordering one side. Not the most beautiful scenery. Someone saw potential in the thin strip of dirt between the lot and the adjacent sidewalk and planted flowers in this unlikely spot. I didn’t hold high hopes for their survival, between their foundation of scrappy dust and their location along the path of multiple pedestrians — including children, who love picking flowers.

Because not everyone does — This letter is to my parents, my sister, my aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends of my parents. For clarity, I am using more formal names (“Mom,” “Dad,” etc.) rather than the nicknames I actually use. Dear Those Mentioned Above, Many of you are no longer here, but I still…

September Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shadows” —