May 29, 2025: The Glow Up

I’ve seen it in New York and London.

Les Misérables, my favorite musical. The songs soar, and the epic plot spans decades. But none of that hits as hard as the character at the center.

Jean Valjean.

A thief hardened by prison becomes a hero softened by grace. All because someone shows him kindness, setting off a chain reaction and a fresh start.

Valjean’s redemptive arc, one of the most profound in literature, reminds me that people really can change.

And today, I witnessed another stunning transformation.

Jake fired up his pressure washer for the first time. He tackled our front porch, which had collected a science experiment of winter-based moss and grime.

And by the end, the bricks gleamed as new and made the entire house glow. A remarkable before and after. A complete rebirth.

Our entryway is no longer Les Misérables, but Les Miracles.

Ah, redemption. Take a bow, Jake.

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!