More about Brian

My youngest years

I was one of the middle kids in a big family. My sister was adopted, and my family took care of foster children—most often newborn babies—before they were adopted. 

My family lived in several states in the west. In high school, I was an exchange student to Germany, and I went back to study there in college. So, though I love our neighborhood in D.C., I miss hiking real mountains in the western U.S., and part of me feels as at home in Germany as anywhere else.

Fast forward to today

I like to ride bikes, to read, and to listen to music. I think a little ice cream in the evening is a good way to end a day. I enjoy walking around our neighborhood, including just going to the hardware or grocery store. I also have fun playing around with graphic design-type stuff (like making this website), and recently I have started making thank-you and birthday cards with rubber stamps and bulk envelopes.

What I would hope to share with a child

1. How to tell a joke: I would hope that our child learns to laugh, to be silly, and to tell a good, funny story.

2. One thing that really matters.  One time I was feeling really overwhelmed or frustrated with something. My dad listened for a while. Then he stopped me and said, essentially, none of what I was upset about really mattered. What matters, he said, is whether you are good to the people around you. That seems like a pretty good thing to keep in mind.
3. How to ride a bike.  Yep, and wear a helmet.