Overbite

Chase and friend

My advice:

Bite off more than you can chew,
and then chew it.

I took Chase out to dinner one night and he ordered clam chowder in a bread bowl. He lifted the overflowing bowl up over his face and took a giant bite out of the bottom, then caught my look of horror. "You're supposed to eat the bowl," he said.

Chase is an enthusiastic eater. I caught myself just before I sounded like a critical grandmother, and commented, "You have an interesting way of inhaling your food."

Chase, pre-braces

He replied, "It's because of my overbite."

People run marathons, they hike mountain peaks, they have babies or get married, move across the country—it's luscious to bite off more than you can chew and then chew it. If you haven't done it in a while, order yourself some clam chowder in a bread bowl and see how much fun it is to take a big chunk out of something really hard. Under that napkin you'll be smiling ear-to-ear.

P.S. My book is going to be published!! (Sorry. I'm gushing.)