Fluff — from a maudlin tearjerker to disaster porn — As a movie lover, I have a set of standbys that draw my attention when I’m flipping channels. These movies may not be the ones I recommend to my erudite friends, but they serve as my comfort food. …

And I’ve got an agenda — As a West Pennsylvania farm cat, I had, like, zero opportunities to see the world. The way I saw it, when Dr. Jill came to the farm to give a speech, I had my one chance to split this cider stand with absolutely nothing to lose. I plastered on my…

Who doesn’t want a do-over? — Given the opportunity for a do-over, who wouldn’t choose to amend that Greg Brady perm, or that ill-advised mullet or shag? What teenage boy wouldn’t want sex after the prom? Take me — I sported a brown tuxedo with a beige ruffled shirt to my prom, so it was all…

By all means, subscribe to your favorite writers like crazy — One of the marvelous aspects of Medium is reading and commenting on the stories of people who think more clearly and write more eloquently than me. Roz Warren, Writing Coach recently wrote a story, “Why You Should Subscribe to the Medium Writers You Love,” about why merely following your favorite…

The big guy’s 11th biting incident —

It takes one to know one — People who don’t ride bikes have reasons aplenty to hate cyclists. And it’s all true. Bicyclists don’t obey traffic signals or signs. They ride on sidewalks. They peacock around, wearing unflattering, tight lycra. Cyclists get bent out of shape when the bike rack right in front of Panera is filled. …

Bedside manner is optional — compassion is mandatory — Skill, experience, and success rate were my sole criteria for selecting a doctor. A recent experience with a skilled, experienced, successful doctor changed my thinking. Like many men of my vintage, I have an elevated PSA. My urologist advised me to get a prostate biopsy after a few more exacting…

Songs of camaraderie and friendship — Buddy Gott laid down a back-to-school playlist challenge in his recent announcement: Choose any of your school years and cobble together the songs you would have wanted to hear then. After a prolonged absence to pursue his real life, the cheerful, delightful Buddy is back, baby. …

Hobnobbing with high-achievers to learn lessons I didn’t anticipate — My sole anxiety was not knowing how to launder my clothes. But it didn’t keep me up at night. As I would discover almost immediately, plenty more should have interfered with my sleep. Before leaving my rural New Jersey home for Ohio to join the Oberlin College class of 1984…