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Happy Father’s Day. Remembering a wild Great Wall hike with my dad

Almost a decade after moving back from Beijing, I no longer think about my three and a half formative years in China on a daily basis. Repatriation is a long process and now the whole experience has been processed through my system and simply…
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Wild Great Wall hike with my Dad was a memorable one

Six years after moving back from Beijing, I no longer think about my three and a half formative years in China on a daily basis. Repatriation is a long process and now the whole experience has been processed through my system and simply become…
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Why I’m driving to Pittsburgh for a baseball game

Tomorrow morning, I will see my kids off to school, kiss Becky good bye, gas up my Chevrolet and drive 357 miles from my New Jersey home to see a baseball game in my hometown of Pittsburgh. It was not a difficult decision. The NL Wildcard…
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When Dixie met Woodie

As detailed in Big in China, when my father, Dixie Doc, visited Beijing in July, 2008, he played two gigs with Woodie Alan. We transformed into a passable Dixieland jazz abnd for about 4 songs per night... "All of Me," "Bill Bailey," "When the…
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A banner day in Pittsburgh

The Store treated the hometown boy very nicely.   Yesterday was one of those days that I will always remember, one of the moments from this book tour that will stand out and stand the test of the time. Thank you Pittsburgh. I'll…
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Dixie in his element

Just found this video that I never dealt with from last summer. This is Dixie Doc leading us on a nature hike to the rocks behind Maple Mountain in an absolute downpour. The virgin oak forest there is so thick we were only getting a bit…
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Dixie’s latest medical news

Archival photo from David Kann, circa 1987Ok, over a week has passed since Dixie’s latest mishap and I think he has cooled down enough to allow me to discuss in this public forum. I will start with this email from David Kann, which sums things…
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Dixie Doc makes his Beijing debut

My friend Matt Roberts and his Ah-Q Jazz Orchestra play every Saturday night at the Beijing CD Jazz Cafe. Last Saturday, their special guest was "Pittsburgh Dixieland trumpet player Dixie Doc." About six friends joined us at the front table…
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Column feedback

Dixie is scheduled to be going under the knife as I write this for a 7-hour (!!) surgery. After staying pretty calm by and by after getting over the initial few days of shock, I am starting to be a nervous wreck, not quite sure what to do with…

First hand Dixie skiing report

Brother-in-law Jon Kessler writes:I know I don't contribute much to this forum(something about sharing your private thoughts withany stranger who happens on the site is a littleunsettling) but a recent occurance has prompted thisshout out. …