ROAD WARRIOR

While I was at Syracuse for Parents' Weekend, Cate was away another weekend with her travel soccer team - her second weekend trip to another state in two weeks. I was fortunate to join her with Kathleen last weekend as we traveled to Milwaukee and then Madison.

We were able to catch up to one of my good friends from med school, who lives in Milwaukee, and then it was on to a weekend of soccer!

Cate's team won the first game 3-2, coming back from two goals down. In the second game, we again went down but fought back an tied it up for a 1-1 draw.

More than just watching Cate's exploits on the field, I enjoy spending time with her and seeing new things. I realize she will be gone from our house in just three years, and I want to take in as much time as I can with her until then. 

I have seen with Nicholas just how quickly time flies, and before they both fly the coup, I will try to drink up every minute we have together. Life is a sweet gift, but it is until further notice.

51

Earlier this month, I celebrated another milestone - my fifty-first birthday. I am not one to think too deeply about birthdays or aging, but it is hard not to at my age!

In thinking about the 51 years I have spent on this earth, I am struck by how lucky I have been and what a wonderful life I have been blessed with.  My dream of being a doctor came true. I have been able to have the career I always dreamed of as an academic physician. My parents are both still well, and I get along with both of them. I love my siblings, and I have a wonderful wife and children, who are incredibly talented and who are growing into remarkable young adults.

I have been able to weather personal and physical challenges and am still able to get up each day and go for a run without limitation or discomfort and clear my mind. Because of my job and the people in my life, I have a better appreciation for the beauty of nature and the everyday kindnesses that are easy to take for granted.

Altogether, I feel very fortunate to have had the life I have had. I do not know when my last day will come. Let's hope it is not for a while! However, if it comes tomorrow, I will die knowing that I have been blessed by so many amazing people, places, and opportunities. I will try to remember this truth everyday - and not just around birthdays - and to appreciate all I have to be thankful for. 

PARENTS' WEEKEND

I was fortunate to visit Nicholas this weekend for Syracuse Parents' Weekend! It had been a little over a month since he left for school, so it was so nice to see him again and catch up in his environment.

Like last year, he stayed in my hotel with me for the weekend, and we took in the sites and tastes of Syracuse. 

We even saw a football game, in which Syracuse blew away Holy Cross! Go 'Cuse!

More than the wonderful food and sites, I enjoyed spending quality time with Nicholas most of all. It is hard to believe he is 19 years old and that he has navigated his first 13 months of college so well. That is a testament to his focus, character, and maturity. I know I was much less mature than him at his age, and I am not sure what has made him so wise beyond his years.

As we spent time together, I was struck by just how grateful I am to have the amazing family that I do. In the end, what more is there in life than time and experiences and expressions of love with the people we care about. In so many ways, that is the lesson that life has revealed to me over and over again, and I will try to remember that virtue the next time I feel cynical or down about the state of the world or about my life. 

I cannot imagine anything more important than seeing my kids grow into the people they will become and supporting them through their ups and downs. My parents have always been that source of support for me, and I feel privileged that my kids might think of me in the same way. 

Nicholas will be back home on fall break in two weeks. Until then, I will fondly recall the memories of this past weekend with my guy. You are one of my favorite people in the world, son, and I am so lucky to be your dad.

STATE OF MINN

This weekend, Kathleen, Cate, and I traveled to Minnesota (MN for short) for the Labor Day weekend. It had been a few years since I had visited, and we packed a lot in to a long weekend.

On the first day, we went to the State Fair. It was packed, and we took in al the sights and sampled a variety of fair fair! I even bought a Harris-Walz t-shirt!

We visited with some of Kathleen's old friends and went to a nice farmers' market in Minneapolis the next day followed by a tour of Kathleen's alma mater, Macalester College in St. Paul. We feasted on some decadent cakes and then headed back to her sister's house for some games!

Today, we enjoyed a barbecue with family before heading to the airport.

I was struck most of all by just how nice people are in Minnesota - noticeably nice than in Michigan, which definitely has an edge to it! Minneapolis is also dramatically bigger than Ann Arbor, though that also means big city problems. Nonetheless, this was a trip to remember. Minnesota Nice is the word I would use for it!

WALZ WITHOUT CEILING

Kamala Harris picked Tim Walz (pronounced "walls"), the Governor of Minnesota, to be her running mate a few event-filled weeks back. Mr. Walz is quite a departure from the typical Democratic candidate. He is not a lawyer. He is not Ivy League-educated. He is not from a coast. He is not wealthy. He is a damn good choice.

Having grown up in rural Nebraska, Mr. Walz has dedicated himself to public service through serving in the military, teaching high school, coaching football, serving in Congress, and serving as Governor.

He is kind, down to earth, and enthusiastic. Famously, he branded the Republicans weird on a segment on Morning Joe, and he has been an ardent supporter of Vice President Harris even before she named him her running mate.

I am very hopeful that his message of patriotism, common sense, kindness, and defense of freedom will resonate with everyday Americans. We are all hungry for those things. Right now, Walz has no ceiling!

KAMALANOMENON

This blog started out in 2008 as a forum for expressing the political stories of the day. However, I have not felt so excited to be a Democrat and so hopeful about the prospect of winning the election since that year. That has everything to do with Kamala Harris.

This election season started out quite depressing - a rematch between the two candidates from the last election. A good portion of the country was rightly unenthusiastic about this re-match, and many of us felt as though we were headed for an electoral disaster.

Fortunately, Joe Biden - god love him - decided to step aside Many people had hoped there might be a mini primary process to decide the nominee, but Joe quickly (within minutes of announcing his departure) endorsed Kamala.

Since that time, she has run a flawless campaign. Her crowds have been huge. Her poll number are surging. There is true joy in the air. 

All of this speaks to the moment we are in. We have weathered a once in a century pandemic. We have withstood eight years of Trump. We have seen two 78+ year old attempt to convince of that they are the rightful steward of our country in this time of unprecedented challenge. America is clearly hungry for a change, and now all of a sudden Kamala is the change candidate while Trump feels like an "incumbent."

In less than 90 days, we will know where this country's epicenter lies. More than the desire for change, so many Americans want to belong to something bigger than themselves and to be agents for progress and positivity - the inverse of everything Trump has offered in his movement. I may be pollyanna, but I do believe that hope beats fear and that change beats retreat.

Here's hoping the Kamalanomenon continues this week at the Convention and beyond!

CUATRO REYES

Today, Spain became the first nation to win the European Championship four times after beating England in a spirted match in Berlin.

Three of their European championships have come since 2008, making them champions in three of the last five championships. Importantly their 2008 and 2012 championships bookended a 2010 World Cup win, the first in their nation's history.

However, since 2012 Spain have looked a team adrift. Their tika taka, death by a thousand passes approach that won them the 2008, 2010, and 2012 titles, had become predictable. Oftentimes, their play lacked a killer instinct, and goals were few and far between.

However, things seem to have changed for the better with the appointment of their current coach Luis de la Fuente. He has brought a more aggressive, possession with purpose style of play and has also ushered in a new generation of players, including the fantastic 17 year old Lamine Yamale from Barca and Nico Williams from Atletico Madrid.

Today, these young man and the rest of the Spanish players were too much for England. Coupled with their UEFA Nations League title last year, Spain look to be the dominant men's team in Europe - just like their women's team whose World Cup victory we witnessed in 2023 in Australia.

I cannot wait to see the Spain team in the USA in the 2026 World Cup, where they have to be considered one of the favorites.

Until then, vamos Espana! You are truly cuatra reyes (four time kings)!