A film named An Irish Goodbye just received an Oscar nomination in the Short Film (Live Action) category.

The film hails from Ireland and features an actor named James Martin. He’s from Belfast. And he has Down syndrome.

Despite her best effort, Monica lost in the finals of the 20th Annual Baraka Bouts.

It turns out her competitor, named Ocean Leto, boxes outside of Notre Dame. She is a tough, experienced fighter. Monica fought well in the first two rounds. But in the last round, she took a nasty uppercut and had a standing 8-count.

Monica won her semifinal fight last week. It was a tough match and she won in a split decision.

Tonight she fights for a title.

Monica won her first Baraka Bouts fight. Notice the purple hand wraps and shoes.

That’s in honor of her father who is battling pancreatic cancer. You can see how much the moment meant to her.

I’ve chronicled Michael’s journey with the Notre Dame Boxing Club. He competed last winter in the Bengal Bouts. Even though he lost, he stayed on his feet for all three rounds.

Tonight the women get into the action as the Baraka Bouts begin.

I recently attended a parent seminar on empathy. Here is the Cliff Notes version: empathy is feeling with someone while sympathy is feeling for someone.

Here’s one way to think about it. Sympathy is what’s on display in a funeral home. While it has a place in our human experience, it’s the short game. Empathy is what happens after a loss, when someone comes into your home, fixes you a cup of tea, and listens to your ongoing struggle. It’s the long game and results in close connection with other people.

Just the other week, I experienced the lesson in a personal way.

Happiness is cleaning out your freezer and finding the chocolate digestives that your daughter brought you from London that you stashed behind the mixed vegetables to hide from your children.

Supposedly the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

It’s also lined with peel-and-stick wallpaper.

Yesterday was one of those days where I will always remember where I was and what I was doing.

Photo by Craig McGonigle on Pexels.com

I was running into Home Goods when Angela called to inform me that Queen Elizabeth had died. My mundane errand stood in stark contrast to events unfolding across the pond.

Every once in awhile, the daily newspaper cartoon speaks to me.

Today’s cartoon actually happened to me.