Do any old-heads out there remember the song, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia”?

Today I experienced, “The Day the Internet Went Out at the Office.” For multiple hours.

Apparently, nothing gets done without this invisible cloud that runs the world. Life stops. Zombie apocalypse. Civilization? Barely hanging on.

When it’s down, there’s chaos. When it’s up, there’s music, feasts, and conga lines.

How did we get anything accomplished before the good ‘ol WWW? Phone calls? Maybe carrier pigeons or Morse code?

Some of us once lived in the distant 1900s. Theoretically, we know work is possible without Wi-Fi. But, strangely, no one seems to remember how.

Well, I left the office and rushed back home to jump online. It was important. I had the sudden urge to listen to Reba McEntire on Spotify.

Ahhh, February — the month of love.

I’ve been the recipient of many loving acts from many amazing people. The greatest one? When Jess stood at an altar in March 1998 and vowed to cherish me through thick and thin. Still thankful for that.

But another sacrificial act occurred in my neighborhood yesterday. It happened in the black of night, on the side of the street.

Sugah, my neighbor’s black and white tuxedo cat, went missing. As hope faded after a full day of searching, they finally found him, stuck in a nearby storm drain.

But it wasn’t an easy rescue. After prying the metal cover off, the owners had to lower themselves into the murk to grab him. Thankfully, Sugah is now safely back home.

A diamond ring symbolizes lifelong commitment. But when someone dives into a pipe, willing to pull you from life’s darker places? That’s love incarnate. If you’re fortunate enough to find both in one person, you’ve hit the jackpot.

Here’s to love in all its messy, beautiful forms.

In middle school, basketball was my escape. I played non-stop, especially in my cement driveway.

Rain or shine, for hours. Long enough for my hands to go raw. The steady rhythm of dribbling and shooting was like therapy, helping me process a rough patch in my life.

Decades later, an adult neighbor — whose living room window faced my bball goal — told me, “You bounced that ball all day and night. But I didn’t mind. I knew you needed it.”

Wow. I never realized my obsession must have driven people crazy. But his kind words stuck with me.

That memory came rushing back tonight as we did something we hadn’t done in years: we went to a middle school basketball game.

We were there to support a family that means a lot to us, watching their son take the same court ours once did. Sitting in those gym stands, I felt the weight of time. Memories of my own boys playing, then flashes of myself at 13, a skinny kid shooting for peace of mind.

And in that moment, it seemed like a final goodbye. A goodbye to middle school basketball. A farewell to the Berkeley Bulldogs. A grateful nod to yesteryear.

Life moves on. Eventually kids grow up, seasons change, and driveways go quiet.

But I’ll tell you this — I can still drain a jumper.

This weekend, Jess wanted to improve her home workspace. And it didn’t require any expensive technology or heavy equipment. The cost? About $30. 

For installation, I thought we might need a ladder, but in the end, it wasn’t even necessary. My job was to remove an outside window screen. But why? What was the project that made her heart flutter?

Turns out, she just wants to watch the birds while she works. So… we mounted a feeder that adheres to the window closest to her desk. 

Honestly, I used to think birdwatching was only for old folks with too much free time. I was wrong. It’s for everyone. There’s something mesmerizing about these colorful visitors descending from the heavens to enjoy the feast we’ve set out.

It’s also a perfect lesson in the law of attraction. When we create space and extend an invitation, unique experiences come right to us. Sometimes landing just inches away. Now, throughout the day, our new friends arrive in a flurry of feathers, their wings making thumps against the glass.

When life feels stressful, I try to remember: Watch the birds. They’re reminders of a bigger plan at work, one that unfolds all around.

If you haven’t done so already, hang a feeder. See what comes your way. It’s the best $30 I’ve spent in a long time.

For years, my family reunion happened every December, overflowing with aunts, uncles, cousins, and an endless spread of Southern food. Deviled eggs, anyone?

But tonight offered a different annual get-together: the Duke-UNC basketball game. The contest is a slice of home for me. I grew up about 30 minutes from both campuses, and the rivalry runs deep.

I’ve always bled Carolina blue, and whenever I watch, I’m reminded of old friends and the years of bets and trash talk at school.

This evening wasn’t great for the Heels. A blowout loss. During player introductions in Durham, the Cameron Crazies have a tradition of chanting at opposing starters: “Hi ____, you suck!” Sadly, given the outcome of the game, they weren’t all that wrong. But that’s okay. We’ll get another shot soon.

Reunions always come back around.