War & Peace, Volume II

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. -Mark Twain A reader wrote:

“The best part is when they finally get it, and tell you sorry for being such pain in the ass during those (teenage) years. My son told me he now understands everything I was trying to convey to his logic blocked brain back then…”

Oh man, I can relate.

I was pretty certain that at least one of my envelope-pushing teens would flee the nest — i-Pod at full volume and a certain finger in the air — never looking back or speaking to me… CONTINUE READING >>

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. -Mark Twain A reader wrote:

“The best part is when they finally get it, and tell you sorry for being such pain in the ass during those (teenage) years. My son told me he now understands everything I was trying to convey to his logic blocked brain back then…”

Oh man, I can relate.

I was pretty certain that at least one of my envelope-pushing teens would flee the nest — i-Pod at full volume and a certain finger in the air — never looking back or speaking to me… CONTINUE READING >>

Channeling our Inner Celebrity in Boston!

Once again we found ourselves at the fantastic Life@50+ Expo – this time in Boston!

And this time we landed on the cover of AARP Magazine! Well, sort of.

Becoming cover models is just one of the myriads of fun activities we participated in while visiting Beantown.

While pretending to be celebrities, we found ourselves mingling with several real celebrities… CONTINUE READING >>

Once again we found ourselves at the fantastic Life@50+ Expo – this time in Boston!

And this time we landed on the cover of AARP Magazine! Well, sort of.

Becoming cover models is just one of the myriads of fun activities we participated in while visiting Beantown.

While pretending to be celebrities, we found ourselves mingling with several real celebrities… CONTINUE READING >>

Canned Hammin’ it up at The Spam Museum!

A whole museum dedicated to a canned meat? Our wondering eyes had to see, we never pass up a cheesy tourist diversion.
Passing by the bronze pigs being led to slaughter, through the front doors, we were greeted by three thousand Spam cans stacked in a stunning display in the lobby.
This museum is no… CONTINUE READING >> 

A whole museum dedicated to a canned meat? Our wondering eyes had to see, we never pass up a cheesy tourist diversion.
Passing by the bronze pigs being led to slaughter, through the front doors, we were greeted by three thousand Spam cans stacked in a stunning display in the lobby.
This museum is no… CONTINUE READING >> 

Green Gables: Bringing My Childhood Imagination to Life

Laura of Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Anne of Green Gables were my closest literary companions in childhood.

There was something about these girls’ feistiness and spirit that sparked “the scope of my imagination” – a bookwormish preteen girl who spent hour upon hour with her nose stuck in the pages of… CONTINUE READING >> 

Laura of Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Anne of Green Gables were my closest literary companions in childhood.

There was something about these girls’ feistiness and spirit that sparked “the scope of my imagination” – a bookwormish preteen girl who spent hour upon hour with her nose stuck in the pages of… CONTINUE READING >> 

What Happened to the Evening News?

I know, I know, I risk sounding like a get-off-my-lawn old guy, but seriously, the network news just ain’t what it used to be. In fact, a good bit of it isn’t even what I would call news.

I’m not talking about the feel good human interest pieces, those have always been a part of journalism, but when did viral videos become news? It seems that anytime I have a chance to tune into the news, I get treated to the latest YouTube sensation. Since when did cute cats, talking babies and folks getting hit in the nuts become fare that rivals the important events of the day?

Add that to the… CONTINUE READING >>

I know, I know, I risk sounding like a get-off-my-lawn old guy, but seriously, the network news just ain’t what it used to be. In fact, a good bit of it isn’t even what I would call news.

I’m not talking about the feel good human interest pieces, those have always been a part of journalism, but when did viral videos become news? It seems that anytime I have a chance to tune into the news, I get treated to the latest YouTube sensation. Since when did cute cats, talking babies and folks getting hit in the nuts become fare that rivals the important events of the day?

Add that to the… CONTINUE READING >>

60 Years of Marriage: A Gift My Parents Gave Me

This week our family is celebrating a remarkable event, my parent’s sixtieth wedding anniversary. Only an extraordinary mixture of love, trust, faith, hard work, and — yes — luck could have made this event possible.

I’m not going to attempt to analyze the inner workings of how a union can not only survive, but thrive over six decades, I am simply going to offer thanks.

More than gratitude for the care and security that I received, although that too often goes unspoken, I want to particularly express how grateful I am forCONTINUE READING >> 

This week our family is celebrating a remarkable event, my parent’s sixtieth wedding anniversary. Only an extraordinary mixture of love, trust, faith, hard work, and — yes — luck could have made this event possible.

I’m not going to attempt to analyze the inner workings of how a union can not only survive, but thrive over six decades, I am simply going to offer thanks.

More than gratitude for the care and security that I received, although that too often goes unspoken, I want to particularly express how grateful I am forCONTINUE READING >>