Just an April story from 2021. We had a late April snow a few weeks ago. It started out as a howling wind, then icy rain, then snow. We watched the temperature drop rapidly from 54 degrees, finally settling at 27 degrees. The following morning it snowed again. Along with the new flurries were big
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Good-Bye Earle
I did something I was afraid to do and I guess I’m proud of myself. I have mixed emotions about this event. I’m part of a chicken co-op and during COVID our old hens decided not to lay any more. We hung on to the girls mostly because the co-op excels at procrastination. Eventually we
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The School of Hard Knocks
I don’t give up easily. Stubborn, hardheaded and tenacious, that’s me. It also takes me a while to get the message when I make bad choices and I’ve made a lot. If this sounds like you, read on. Actually, read on anyway. I graduated high school in Indiana with honors a semester early. Four
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Revenge Isn’t Really Very Sweet
I’ve been thinking about revenge. In the southern branch of our family revenge was best served ice cold, saccharine sweet, locked and loaded. Tradition dictated that if you wronged us, you wronged the entire family and you would pay. If not today, tomorrow. If not this decade than the next or forever until your family
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Learning to Chill
Geez, I’m tired. What about you? Have you ever had a week where everything seems overwhelming? That’s my week. Every time I turn around, I’m rushing off to the next thing. I did this complete overwhelm to myself just as you do it to yourself too. I scheduled lots of events and fun things that
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All About Fear and Fearlessness
I read this quote: “Decide how you’re going to deal with fear, because fear will be a big issue in life.” I don’t remember the author but it got me thinking. If you know who this should be attributed to, let me know. Fear has really good information attached to it: it’s an unusual gift.
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Cosmetic Surgery? Ah, No.
My pal and I were chatting the other day when she turned to me and said, “You know, you could get some Botox for those wrinkles on your forehead. I think you’d really like it.” Huh! True, I didn’t sleep well the night before. When I got up that morning and looked in the mirror,
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Laughter Becomes You
I’m a big fan of laughter. It’s a universal human trait. I use it in my personal life and in my coaching. But I’m curious: Why do we laugh? It seems to be something uniquely human. . That’s what I thought until I learned that 65 different species of animals have their own sort of
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Who would you choose to be stranded with on a desert island? Just 2 of you. No idea how long you’ll be there. Give it some thought. . The pandemic has been hard on friends, roommates, and family. It’s been an acid test of how we see the people we love, what we’re willing to
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Unexpected Adult Education
I once worked with a bookish guy named Tom. What I didn’t realize was how naïve he was. Tom came from a religious family and had led a sheltered life. When he started college, he needed to get a part time job. He was so excited when he came across an ad in the newspaper
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A Close Encounter with Herkimer
I drive these country roads daily. Mostly I encounter potholes, people driving in the middle of the road, quarry trucks, and tailgaters. But one morning as I maneuvered down a double S curve, I came face to snout with a black bull. I can’t even begin to describe how massive this creature was that was
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The Tooth Fairy’s Assistant
The tooth fairy. What a concept. Apparently it’s French. My dad was the tooth fairy’s assistant in our family. He was in charge of pulling loose baby teeth. Dad was very sneaky about getting baby teeth out of my head. I thought I knew his latest trick and then wham! He’d find a way to
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