Scourge Of The 50’s; Unseen Monster At The Door

As a child who grew up in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, I knew all about summer sizzle. We lived with triple digit heat day after day, and never dreamed there was cooler weather in other places. Well, there was the coast, but that was special, and just for two weeks vacation each […]

Purpose, Rhythm, Destiny; Lessons From The Sea

It finally is the last week in June, and when I was growing up, that meant pack the suitcases and the car, fill the gas tank, and head for Santa Cruz. I do not have any memories of summer vacations spent anywhere else. Santa Cruz was our go to place, and it never occurred to […]

From Sea Monkeys To Baltic Amber – Life Of A Mail Order Shopper

Text message received from daughter who was picking up mail at Post Office: What did you order from Lithuania? I did not know. Texted her back, and told her I was pretty sure I had not sent for a mail order husband. Or a book of Lithuanian Fairy Tales. Or mead; I cannot remember why I […]

Thomas Jefferson And My War With Broccoli

I learned today I have a bone to pick with Thomas Jefferson. Or maybe a leafy green thing to pick with him. “Tom! What were you thinking?” Peacefully reading the news this morning, I came across a story reporting how you were the culprit, the person who introduced those dread broccoli seeds to our United […]

More Than Flowers Or Flags, Please Meet John V. Apple

There is a belief time changes things. I choose to think that time encompasses and embraces all things in its forward movement. We may speak, behave, and view life differently now than in days gone by; but, I do not think those long ago ways are gone, they just are no longer used. And so it is […]