A few days past, I encountered two people I did not know as I went outside to retrieve that all-important mail (which, as usual, was hardly worth the effort). They introduced themselves and handed me a local candidate’s “door hanger” for the upcoming election. This began a normal (for ...
Get a bunch of guys 70 years and older together at this time of year and the conversation just might turn to Halloweens of yore. One-upmanship sets in as each man brags about Halloween pranks in which he was involved. One Halloween in the early ‘60s some of the guys (I wasn’t in on this one) placed a farm trailer on top of an overhang at our high school gym entrance. The school superintendent walked into our study hall the next morning and with an obviously accurate sixth sense called out about a half dozen names. The guys left with sheepish grins and moved the trailer to the ...
“You’re receiving this gift because I love the colorful fall season. “Even though I don’t know you, I pray that you will feel blessed by the beauty that God provides each day, such as seeing a beautiful sunrise or sunset, being with someone who brings you joy or maybe it's in the stillness and quietness of the night as you ponder the many wonders of the world. We only need to open our eyes, ears, heart and mind to see what he has for us to enjoy every day. “Enjoy the season!” I wish I could recall more about the woman who approached me in the Hy-Vee parking lot. I ...
I enjoy living across the street from Graceland Cemetery, especially when dogs are out walking their humans. My daughter is on the board of directors for Midwest Peke ‘n Chin Rescue, helping with all those small, smooshie-faced dogs with big attitudes. She recently assisted in the adoption ...
As children we are taught not to covet other people’s things. I had cousins who had an electric train setup. I wanted it. That’s coveting. Come to think of it, I wasn’t coveting. I wanted one like it! By the way, I could covet all I wanted but I didn’t get that train set or one like it. Fast forward to today. At my age, there isn’t much I want anymore. I have been richly blessed and the things I don’t have I don’t want. Well, there is one thing I still kind of covet. It sounds silly but I covet guys who can dance well. I don’t want to be a Fred Astaire, I just want ...
If you are familiar with domestic violence, you know that its effect most often is to ruin your life. I wish I hadn’t just written that. Domestic violence is too often incremental, starting in a way that confuses, then escalating to a point where you are certain it’s time to leave. Want some statistics? Here are a few: — 1 in 10 high school students has experienced physical violence from a dating partner in the past year. This is incremental. — 9.4% of high school students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt intentionally by their partner in the previous 12 ...
