“Thank you for your service.” The woman’s voice draws my attention and I watch the TV. She is shaking the hand of a veteran arriving home after an Honor Flight. The news clip ex-plains that the Korean War veteran had…
Her throat closed when she smelled gasoline and smoke. He’d come back for her. She couldn’t stop the whimper from escaping her lips. She covered her mouth, but it was too late. He’d heard. Rustling of pant legs came closer…
During a recent Kiwanis meeting, a man named Dave shared his story about working for a business that rents out goats to parks or landowners who want to rid their property of invasive weeds. Dear readers, is it just me,…
In September we celebrate World Peace Day. As night falls this evening, families across the world will have different prayers, rituals, and lullabies. But as we adults gaze down on our loved ones, we’ll all share the same wish. Peace.…
My mate and I ride a thermal along the rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Although I have the reputation of being “a tough old bird,” I melt as I take in her curved beak, nearly 10-foot wing span, and…
This week is the Dells Wo-Zha-Wa festival. Wo-Zha-Wa is a Ho-Chunk phrase which means having fun. It’s a popular time for locals to connect with old friends, for tourists to visit the Dells, and for everyone to celebrate the beginning…
It’s back to school time, and I feel a wistful twinge as I wander down the school supply section of Walmart. I’ve been retired for almost a decade, but old habits die hard, and I add a packet of…
I awoke early at our Northwoods cabin and walked outside to let my four pet ducks out of their pen. I nicknamed them the “Dabblers” after I brought them to the lake for the first time and they ignored the…
A friend who wrote and illustrated children’s books, Marsha Dunlap, died after a long battle with cancer. One of the first times I met Marsha was during a blinding snowstorm. A small group of us had rented a bed and…
My father dreamed of going elk hunting out west. He worked at least 40-hour weeks at American Motors and maintained a huge garden so finding the time (and extra cash) was a strug-gle. Dad occasionally took time for himself to…