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Goodbye Lake Delton
I walked toward the doors of Lake Delton Elementary for what was likely the last time. The school where I had taught for thirty-three years would soon close, but the memories still rushed in. My fourth-graders hopped in potato sacks during Pioneer Day races in the field. Near the tall tree, we released painted lady […]
Under Maple’s Branches
Forty-nine years ago, my husband, Frank, of only a few months, and my father dug up a silver maple sapling from the yard of the home where I had spent my teen years. Back in the 1970s, people often planted silver maples for quick shade because the trees can grow three to seven feet a […]
A Keeper of Stories
Like the quilts displayed in her home, Jean Brew’s life is a tapestry of stories, carefully stitched, lovingly preserved, and meant to be passed down. Recently honored with the William Canfield History Award, Jean has spent a lifetime making sure the past is not forgotten. But for her, history isn’t about dates or dusty artifacts. […]
A Bracelet of Mothers
Many years ago, my aunts gave me a gift unlike any other. It wasn’t wrapped in glittery paper with ribbons and bows. It came in a simple box—plain, sturdy, dependable. Much like the women it honored. Inside was a bracelet made of wooden panels, each one bearing the photo of a mother in my family […]
The Eight-Dollar Shoes That Lightened My Footprint
My granddaughter is getting married in a few months, which means I needed to find a pair of dress shoes. This may not sound like breaking news, but for me, it ranked somewhere between preparing taxes and breaking off another tooth. I dread shoe shopping. Dress shoes are expensive, and many seem designed for young […]
Fox Bones, Sweatshirts, and Earth Day Lessons
Several years ago, I had the chance to hike Isle Royale, that rugged wilderness park in Lake Superior, where moose outnumber people and wolves howl in the distance. Before our group set out, our trail leader explained the seven principles of “Leave No Trace,” including “Pack it in, pack it out” and “Leave what you […]
Happiness, Wherever You Land
Sunnie, our new puppy, fell head over paws for the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. She pulled on the leash as we got closer. Once her paws hit the warm sand, she dug furiously, pausing now and then to stretch out as the sand shifted beneath her, cradling her like a memory foam mattress. She […]
Learning to Love My Faithful Buzzards
They’re back — the harbingers of death. I step outside into the twilight and hear the soft rustle of wings. Shadows ride the thermals above me. One descends and lands on the top of a pine tree. Another follows. Soon, our backyard is peppered with dark wings. It’s unnerving. With their keen eyesight, my husband […]