Elkhart Lake, Wis., has a population of 900+ by the Census Bureau’s count, but by the locals’ estimates, that balloons to 10s of thousands during big tourist weekends in the summer. I know this because I just got back from Elkhart Lake. I accompanied Beth, who had multiple gigs at the Sheboygan Children’s Book Festival, […]

It’s “Disability Awareness Week” at Wilmot Elementary School in Deerfield, Illinois, and the kids there had already enjoyed a special guest before I showed up there with Whitney yesterday. Melissa Stockwell, a three-time Paratriathlon World Champion and decorated U.S. Army veteran, had been at Wilmot the day before us. Melissa was serving in Baghdad in 2004 when a roadside bomb […]

Budweiser’s been running a very popular commercial against drunk driving that takes a novel approach: Be careful, be responsible, and get home safe…to your dog, who’s counting on you, after all. It’s really effective, all the more if you have a dog thing. You can watch here if you haven’t seen it. The effectiveness of […]

My first high school reunion — the 10-year one — happened right after I lost my sight. I didn’t go. I haven’t been to any since then, either. Friends and family members who go to high school reunions tell me it’s hard to recognize old friends when you can see them. Blind at a high […]