The Writings of Peter Vogt — The Archives

I publish a new essay here every Friday—which, over time, adds up to lots of essays!
So enjoy these pieces from the growing For Pete’s Sake archives. I hope you like reading these posts as much as I like writing them and sharing them.

There’s No Such Thing as Normal People — Only Normal Feelings

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I was hanging out at the nursing home with my 81-year-old mom this morning, waiting with a crowd of seven for the music program to start in the rec/dining room, when up in her wheelchair rolled a resident I’d never met before. “What’s your name?” she asked as she eased to a stop, locking on […]

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Music Is — and Always Was — Supposed to Be Fun

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I’m jealous of my son Theo. Envious. Wishing I had my youth back and could walk in his shoes, at least in one respect. Theo is blessed to have a one-of-a-kind orchestra teacher at school who radiates the idea that music is joy. Bust-out-smiling, completely-lose-yourself-in-the-moment kind of joy that involves hard work, yes, but never […]

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Alzheimer’s May Destroy My Brain, But It Will Never Destroy Me

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I don’t know a damn thing about Alzheimer’s disease. Not really. Nothing beyond the common man’s understanding that it is a merciless invader that destroys the brain from the inside out. Slowly. Painstakingly. Certainly. Nope. I don’t have a degree in neurology from Harvard Medical School. I haven’t conducted a single double-blind study that will […]

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Could It Be — Could It Really Be — That Life Is a Gift and Not an Assignment?

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I’ve been trying to avoid acknowledging it for hours, days, weeks, months in some ways. For lots of reasons. When you’re a writer you’re supposed to be a wise, confident soul who gives to your readers, not a lost, vulnerable soul who takes from them. And when you’re a grown-up you’re supposed to act grown […]

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I Choose to Keep Running — Lather, Rinse, Repeat

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Running is my life — although I don’t mean that in the way you might think. Running is not my No. 1 passion, maybe not even a passion at all. I do enjoy it — a lot. I run more days than not, because it makes me feel good physically, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually. Running has […]

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