I left the dime in the rental car. I went through the arm rest and wadded up the napkins. I grabbed the empty coffee cups. I took the half empty bottle of Purell and even checked to see if anything was left in the trunk. I threw it all away. But I left the dime in the cupholder. I had considered grabbing it. Stopped to think about taking it with me. Ten cents? Nah, I told myself. I’m not a rich man, but I can afford to leave a dime. It’s too much trouble. I don’t want it rattling around in my pocket with keys. What am I going to do with a dime anyway? So I left it behind. I couldn’t throw it away. And I’m feeling awfully guilty now about even thinking that way.
Marching in … I mean through … the St. Patty’s Day Parade for Pepper
I never thought I would march in New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Yet, there I was among the blaring bagpipes that echoed across 5th Avenue’s skyscraper canyon. The high school bands. The kilts. That undulating sea of green that swarmed like ants through the city. For a brief moment — a break in the swarm — I was part of it. The pomp and circumstance. The Irish pride. The cop yelling, “Let’s go, people! Get across that street!” Run! Run! Run!
Life in a Nutshell wins Florida Press Club commentary award
Brian Thompson’s “Life in a Nutshell” column, which runs weekly in the St. Augustine Record, won a first place award in the Florida Press Club’s 2011 Excellence in Journalism Competition for commentary writing in class C, which is daily newspapers with less than 40,000 circulation. This is the third year in a row the column has won an award in the commentary category, and the fourth Press Club award for it. The three columns that won were: • Things you Never … EVER … Do with a Kid in the Room • Every Moment Now Precious for a Dog with Cancer • Answering the call of the ice cream truck
Finding humanity in a South Florida homeless shelter
I could have been at a Labor Day party, chowing down on tacos and making underwater movies with my daughter. God bless waterproof cameras. Instead I’m spending the weekend at a homeless shelter in Hollywood, Florida, drinking sugar with a splash of coffee. Toilet paper is sticking to my shoe, and I’m wondering if the tickle in my throat is MRSA.
Fear and loathing … of traveling with college kids
Things I fear — right now! — as you read this. Because I’m stepping on an airplane with two college students. We’re venturing off to Birmingham, Ala., for a Society of Professional Journalists Conference. They’re not professionals yet, but they’re the co-editors of the college newspaper I advise. They’re also up for a couple of awards — nice, important ones — and we’re going to collect them. But that means traveling together. Journeying afar. Getting on a plane, riding in a taxi, staying in a hotel, eating food, spending quality time together, etc., etc., etc.