I am at Grandpa’s house, a wonderland of my childhood with a treasure-filled attic and scary basement. I love most the button jar stowed behind a door in the hutch. Each time I cross Grandpa’s threshold, I run to the buttons. Perhaps that is why Grandpa gives me sewing cards, a set of pre-punched designs…
We avoid slamming into the trees and debris that block our path. We paddle back upstream to a place where we should be able to exit the boat. I am shaking from exhaustion and maybe nerves. Don is in the front of the boat so he gets out first. Problem is, this bank is also…
June 23, 10:30 AM – We left the van back at the take-out site in LaMoure, ND. We are now at the little campground where we will park the truck and put in the boat. We are tromping around along the shoreline looking for a good place: not too steep or slippery since we don’t…
Last winter: We are discovering that we like the same things: camping, hiking, fishing. Rivers, lakes! I have an inflatable kayak, he has a small boat that fits in the back of his pickup. We both love floating rivers. Hey, why not do a trip down the James River on his boat next summer? We…
I was in Denver last week to attend a preaching conference. I do not usually attend this conference, which moves around to different cities, unless I can stay with friends, thus reducing costs. My son, Kerry, lives in Denver, so attending this year’s conference was a no brainer. However, I stayed at the home of…
During my sabbatical trip last summer, I bought a zero-gravity lounge chair from Cabelas (Billings, MT). My other chair was uncomfortable, the bed in my camper was awful, and I ached from head-to-toe. I needed to solve those problems so I could sleep in the camper and lounge outdoors during the day, for 6 weeks.…
In the months leading up to my 60th birthday (this past July), I was anxious and unsettled. I dreaded getting so old, and these feelings contributed to some big changes in my life. Now, 6 months later, and I am all settled in. I have much to look forward to with my son becoming engaged.…
At night, I snuggled into my blankets with my transistor radio. The lighted dial provided a soothing glow under the covers. I was supposed to be sleeping, but how could I when the new Beatles songs were playing over and over? I learned today that the transistor radio was also born in 1954 and is…
My personal friends are curious about how I can leave one job without another “at our age”. I know that conventional wisdom says we should stay put and wait out retirement. Moving on is too risky. AT LEAST HAVE ANOTHER JOB, I hear. Here are some random thoughts. 1. Risk taking has nothing to do…
Furnace on: check Quilts out: check Firewood inside: check All ready for a wintry storm coming in, even as I type. Temps tonight are too warm for snow, but it may come tomorrow night. Sigh. I love it now but, if this is another early winter, I will be grouchy by February. Since I am…