I’m feeling pretty useless these days. I try to remember the good ol’ days when I was a dynamo. I once jumped into a cold lake because I thought Mum needed saving while she was zipping around on water skis.…
“Summer Nights” from Grease loops in my head as I mash a banana and crack open a beer—not to sip, not yet, but to bait moths. According to online sources, moths are drawn to a fermented mix of banana, sugar,…
I knew I was about to pass out. I stood up and walked from the carpeted floor to the kitchen to call for my husband, who was downstairs. I woke up to shouting. “Amy, what was that noise?” Frank was…
In honor of International Fairy Day, which is celebrated this week, I’m sharing a story that proves that a bit of magic—and a sprinkle of sand—can make a lasting memory. My six-year-old granddaughter, Maria, hurried up the walk to our…
She wore her hair in a stylish French twist, but she could hit a softball out of the schoolyard. She was my third- and fourth-grade teacher, and I loved her. Shirley Meyer never achieved anything as monumental as winning a…
Dear Dad, Happy 100th birthday—and happy Father’s Day! Even though you’ve been gone 45 years, I still think of you often. I like to imagine you’re watching over me and my family with a smile and an approving, “Dirty Dog,”…
Three years ago, my husband and I spent a week at Disney World in Florida. I loved the Soarin’ Around the World ride, where you could strap in and experience, through digital projection, flying like a bird. The ride felt…
Last week, I shared highlights of my interview with the Sauk County Humane Society (SCHS) and mentioned the Basset Hound mother, Princess, and her puppies. By the time Princess and her puppies were brought to the shelter, they were all…
What do meeting Mrs. Wisconsin, hearing about the joys of bathing a Great Dane, and learning about saving an emaciated basset hound have in common? They all resulted from my visit to the Sauk County Humane Society. In honor of…
It will soon be here. Memorial Day is a day we set aside to honor those U.S. military personnel who served in the armed forces. My father was in the Navy during World War II, serving aboard the USS Crater.…