Don't let extra pages, exotic stamps, or a collection of colorful visas mislead you. A good traveler is not defined by the size of their passport, but how they use it.

I believe the "vigil" saps families not only of their energy, but also their ability to make intelligent decisions. I've put together some tips drawn directly from how my son and I chose to cope with our three-week ICU waiting room experience. They may work for you.

I'm an impatient person, and standing in a slow-moving line is one of those very small, maddening aspects of life that drives me crazy. As often happens, however, when I learned more about the experience, it became more interesting to me.

Most of all, I am nostalgic for the time where common sense and humanity took precedence over technology. Where we shaped our equipment to suit our needs instead of our equipment shaping us.