Philip Gerard

Excuses come a nickel a dozen, and few are worth repeating. Over his lifetime, Philip Gerard has certainly heard his fair share. But the excuse he'll share with us today is, if not singular, certainly outstanding. 

Commentaries here on WHQR.org do not necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Radio, its editorial staff, or its members.

The old adage suggests if you want a job done right, you have to do it yourself. But, there are other ways to get the same result. Commentator Philip Gerard's father found if you can make someone else do the job, over and over again, even perfection is a possibility. 

Commentaries here on WHQR.org don't necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Radio, its editorial staff, or its members. 

It's hard to imagine a literary great like Philip Gerard being berated in a workshop, but there was such a time. Today, he shares his first workshop experience with us, and comes away unscathed.

Commentaries here on WHQR.org don't necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Radio, its editorial staff, or its members.

Few things can be worse than falling prey to a scam--except, of course, cleaning up the oily residue. Commentator Philip Gerard knows the feeling, and recounts ever slippery detail in "Grocery Scam." 

The quest for the perfect holiday gift brings most shoppers more agony than joy, but Philip Gerard has a knack for finding the perfect gift. Sometimes, it's right in his medicine cabinet.

Commentaries here on WHQR.org don't necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Radio, its editorial staff, or its members. 

Philip Gerard was never a Boy Scout. Had he been, one moment in history could have been changed forever. Today, he tells us why we all have his father to thank for a catastrophic event that Philip could have prevented. 

COMMENTARIES HERE ON WHQR DON'T NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF WHQR RADIO, ITS EDITORIAL STAFF, OR ITS MEMBERS.

There are things we don't want to see and things we can't avoid. Philip Gerard encounters both when he witnesses  the aftermath of an accident he didn't see, but saw coming before it happened. 

COMMENTARIES HERE ON WHQR DON’T NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF WHQR RADIO, ITS EDITORIAL STAFF, OR ITS MEMBERS.

Rickety chairs, a legend of a tinsmith and a woe-begone damsel waiting for her long-departed love: such is the stuff of any good ghost story.   Commentator Philip Gerard revisits his formative years, and uncovers a surprise twist to a harrowing tale from his teens.

Commentator Philip Gerard gives some serious thought to the state of the service industry.  From airline bottles to steam cleaning, modern hotel rooms provide a full menu of automated amenities.  And yet, it's the human element that's missing.   Sure, there's no one to tip - but nothing is ever on the house and come checkout, there's no such thing as spare change.

Commentaries on WHQR don't necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Radio, its editorial staff, or its members.

Commentator Philip Gerard is a firmly established man of letters, which may explain why it took him a bit longer than others to learn how to count. In today's tale, he remembers when the numbers game finally clicked, and thanks the bully that helped him reach his breakthrough.