With the recent birth of my daughter and the self-reflection that followed, I began to consider the responsibilities of parenthood. For the first time in my life, I am responsible for another human. This includes making decisions for her well-being, but also sharing knowledge and wisdom to guide her. Much of my meditation on this […]

As the warmer weather approaches and we move into boating season, preparations for summer begin. For me, a major part of this process is checking my boat for any necessary maintenance or repairs. While working on this task, I began to think about the role of the Mississippi River in the culture and history of

Nicolas Maduro’s capture definitely shook the relationship between the United States and Latin America.  However, one Latin American country has always had a complex relationship with the United States: Mexico.  Sharing a substantial border, both countries have a history of territorial disputes and economic interdependence.  Not unlike Colombia and Cuba, Mexico’s relationship with the U.S.

Shortly after Nicolas Maduro’s capture shook relations between the United States and Venezuela, another Latin American country became the focus of the U.S. government: Colombia. Because of its border with Venezuela, guerilla movements, and cocaine production, Colombia has drawn criticism from the U.S. government. This hit particularly close to home because my wife is from

Following the capture of Nicolas Maduro, the relationship between the United States and Latin America shifted tremendously. At the forefront of this shift is Cuba due to its close relationship with Venezuela and their shared animosity with the United States. As someone who has travelled to Cuba, I thought it would be a good opportunity

Every year my family takes a trip to Kabetogama Lake in Voyageurs National Park.  This year we had some new guests including my wife and my sister’s boyfriend.  While discussing the history of Voyageurs National Park, I began to think about the relationship between the area and humans.  From the Indigenous peoples who inhabited the

During the final leg of our Nashville trip, we spent our last night in Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri.  Our hotel was next to a Cracker Barrel and per family tradition, we did not waste the opportunity to stop and shop.  I was also eager for my wife to experience the country vibe of the

On our way back from Nashville, we stopped at Mammoth Cave National Park.  This national park is home to the largest known cave system in the world.  I was fascinated with the extensive caverns and expanses within the cave.  Naturally, the historian in me wanted to connect the human historical element but also the geological

When my family and I went on a vacation to Nashville, Tennessee, we immediately felt the country music vibe of the city.  However, I quickly realized that there were many other cultural and economic influences aside from Music Row.  As an ardent student of history, I am quite familiar with the role of slavery in

While taking a trip to Nashville with my family, we stopped at The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.  I had been there once before but did not go up to the top.  This time I wanted to cross that off my bucket list.  Between my minimal research prior to the trip, as well as