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…

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. And Plethora of Pop…

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…

For crying out loud, now he’s a novelist, too? — Why pick on Tom Hanks, one of the most beloved movie stars on the planet? Because it’s not enough for Mr. Forrest Gump-Woody-Sully-Fred Rogers-Jim Lovell-Captain Phillips to rest on the laurels of his two Oscars, the Kennedy Center Award, and 94 other prizes. As if being a superstar actor isn’t…

I swear, it’s unused — Dear Neighbors — Is anyone interested in this unused length of dental floss? I swear, my hands were clean when I pulled it from the container and placed it directly into a new snack-sized Ziploc™ bag. I intended to yank an arm’s length of floss from the container. …

How a speeding ticket underscored my privilege — Busted We were busy yukking it up, and I hadn’t paid attention to the speedometer or the speed limit. A patrol car’s flashing lights interrupted the return to our Bed & Breakfast. …