A Family Tradition - a Column by Carlos Briceño

I have very little knowledge about cars — how they work, how they run, and most importantly, how to fix them. I need to find someone who does know how to fix my car if it ever breaks down. Since my automobile is such a vital part of my life,…

Here’s the scene: My wife, Jill, and I are at Jill’s work. We’re on speakerphone with our daughter’s friend, who is at a hospital almost 1,000 miles away with three other friends and Lou, our daughter. (Lou is our daughter’s nickname.) The reason for the call is to listen in…

My wife, Jill, who has Huntington’s disease, is doing remarkably well. Most people in her shoes would be falling apart, but she is levelheaded about having it, and many are amazed when I tell them that she accepts her diagnosis. Think about that for a moment: She tolerates a…

“The Talk” has a very different meaning to most people than it does in our home. When our daughter was born, my wife, Jill, had a very clear wish that we would always be open and honest with our daughter about things. By “things,” Jill meant most everything. She wanted…

Second in a series. Read part one. Based on the number of television commercials touting DNA testing, finding out information about one’s genes has become de rigueur these days. As I mentioned in my last column, however, when there’s the possibility of having inherited genes that might cause…

First in a series. I wanted to write a positive column this week about the strength and courage my wife has displayed over the last few months. She has, and I will — but not this week. In fact, welcome to the first of two parts about a topic that…

Family traditions often include fond memories. For instance, President John F. Kennedy’s family tradition involved sailing a 25-foot sailboat called the Victura. The open sea, the wind at your back, the blue skies, the sun sparkling off the water — who wouldn’t look back at those memories and not smile…

I imagine some of you know people who are experts at worrying. Pick any situation and these worrywarts will rev up with a highlight reel of catastrophic scenarios usually involving pain, blood, and a depressing outcome. For the record, I’m the opposite of that kind of person. I fall into…