Memory

The dishes are piled high in the sink. The recycling bin is overflowing. Unfortunately, kitchen conversations in our house always become mystery stories: Who did the dishes last time?  Why can't we agree on who should do the dishes?

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Paul and I were sixteen years old and had taken high school Spanish for a year. We called each other every night on the phone and spoke to each other in our new language. More than anything we wanted to test our skill with a real Spanish speaking person, but we did not know any. Then we got the idea to have dinner at a Mexican restaurant. For two boys who had never dined out without their parents, this was a big adventure. We were so motivated that when we made reservations, we asked to be seated with a waiter who could not speak English.  Read More

An only child clearly has the advantage of always being mom and dad's favorite. When there is more than one child in the family, favoritism seems to be an abyss parents can't escape even when they try.  Read More

Baby, it's cold outside. Not just up here in New England, but across continents. Citrus farmers in Florida are worried about freezing crops. Britain is experiencing its worst cold spell in three decades. There's record snowfall in China. You know what this means, of course. Brace yourself for yet another spate of obituaries declaring the end of global warming... Read More

My journal for the year beginning in January 1972 opens with resolutions: "eat less greasy food, start homework earlier, get fingernails to grow, stay away from Tom because he will never love me the way I want him to and he'll only break my heart again if I let him, drink less soda."

The only thing I have managed to do is get my fingernails to grow and even for THAT I get professional help. Read More

On August 18th and August 19th, 2009, Daniel Tammet was gracious enough to let me peer into his world. Over the coming days, I will reveal my complete interview with Daniel, laid out in six parts. In this fourth part, Daniel talks about IQ testing, intelligence, gifted education, labeling, Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers, and definitions of savantism.

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While some may dislike the Oscar winning film, "Rain Man," it has always had a special place in my heart.  For me, watching it was a revelation - it gave me a name, for the first time, for what made me different.  When I read today that the man who inspired the movie, Kim Peek, passed away last Saturday, I was deeply saddened.  

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On August 18th and August 19th, 2009, Daniel Tammet was gracious enough to let me peer into his world. Over the coming days, I will reveal my complete interview with Daniel, laid out in six parts. In this second part, Daniel talks about how his mind works. I hope you find Daniel's reflections, insights, and ongoing journey just as fascinating and thought-provoking as I have. Read More

On August 18th and August 19th, 2009, Daniel Tammet was gracious enough to let me peer into his world. Over the coming days, I will reveal my complete interview with Daniel, laid out in six parts. In this first part, Daniel talks about his latest book Embracing the Wide Sky, plasticity, Autism, and Asperger's syndrome, while dispelling popular myths. I hope you find Daniel's reflections, insights, and ongoing journey just as fascinating and thought-provoking as I have. Read More