I Sat Quietly at My Father’s Veterans Ceremony Until a Uniformed Officer Ignored the Stage and Came Directly to Me

is trying to begin again. It didn’t feel practiced. It felt like a first attempt, which is what it was, and first attempts at the right things are worth more than perfect execution of the wrong ones.

“Get home safe,” he said.

“I will.”

I drove out of the neighborhood and onto the highway and the Virginia night was wide and dark around the car. The radio continue reading …