My older brother Eddie threw a mean bullet pass. During the big games on Curtis Street, when all the Mulhall boys showed up, Eddie would have me run short patterns across the middle and buttonhooks in front of Mr. Holder’s old Buick.

Sometimes it feels like I’m riding through life on a two-speed bike.

About once a year I give myself permission to do a Mindful Midweek on one of my dogs. It’s a tradition. I thrive on the appreciation they show me and will do anything to keep it rolling in.

I think I should do it. I don’t think I should do it. It’s called ambivalence: the way my mind tugs me first one way, then the other.

I’m nominating a Most Useless Word for 2013. It’s going to be (drumroll, please): “interesting.”

Dear Friends and Family,

I apologize for getting my holiday letter out to you so late. It’s my very first, but after reading about the exotic trips, accomplishments and darling grandchildren shared in all of your picture-packed greetings, I didn’t want you to feel as if I’m not keeping up.

A good friend of mine gets concerned about things happening in other parts of the world. Jon stays up late reading and talks about issues over coffee as if they all were happening in his own living room. He develops intelligent points of view, which are well articulated and well defended. He gets all worked up. His face expresses each emotion.