Relationships & Family

Give Gifts All Year Long

jbloustein — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:37:41 -0600

As I toss the crumpled wrapping paper into the growing heap on the floor, my guilt grows over the excess, knowing there are starving, suffering people all over the world while my kids rip open present after present.

I tried to not go overboard this year. But with Santa and presents from family, the bounty quickly piles up. I am grateful that my children can have some carefree moments of magic, opening gifts that appeared under their tree, but I want to make sure that they aren’t lost in materialism and selfishness during this, or any time of the year.

Hidden Treasure

jbloustein — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:17:42 -0500

"Team Ria will find the loot!” my niece Regina declared.

She brandished a compass and a journal, items from the treasure-hunting kit her mother, my sister Maria—Ria for short—had assembled as a Christmas gift. Now we were putting them to good use.

Somewhere amid the browning oak trees and rocky shores of Catskill Point Park was a golden doubloon that had lain hidden for 17 years—and we wanted to find it. We needed to.

Rambler's Return

jbloustein — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:08:26 -0500

Christmas Eve should have been a happy day.

Our house was decorated. Work was done at the small-town church where my wife, Ricki, and I are pastors. Our kids and their families were coming over the next morning. And best of all, Blake, my grandson, was coming with them.

Blake had just finished basic training in the Navy. We hadn’t found out till the last minute whether he’d be home for the holidays. It would be such a relief to see him.

Dad's Pitch

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 1998 06:59:00 -0600

When I was pitching in the major leagues I was known as "Knucksie," because I threw a knuckleball. You don't actually throw a knuckleball with your knuckles.

But that's just one of the many strange things about the pitch. Few pitchers can consistently control it, and fewer still can make a living throwing it.

Yet that's exactly what my brother Joe and I both did. We credit our dad. He's the one who taught me the knuckler—and just about every important thing I know.

Windows into Phillip's World

jbloustein — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:09:01 -0500

Phillip is my older brother.

Usually an older sibling looks after younger ones, but all my life I have cared for my brother, who has lived away from home since he was six years old.

Phillip is severely autistic. He is able to dress himself and enjoys looking good. He is unfailingly kind, endearing and loves to be helpful and busy.