From Kent State to South Minneapolis

Hello as January turns to February, As a history major, as a person who studied philosophy at all levels in higher education, as a person with both a background immersed in the liberal arts and theology, I find daily life as simultaneously predictable and no, something fascinating and yet that often creates apprehension. As myContinue reading “From Kent State to South Minneapolis”

A Vision for What is Possible

Hello at the beginning of another week, My appreciation for history is because of the amazing history teacher, Mr. Larry Flom. Additionally, he taught my civics class and American Government class. The importance of understanding the role of our government and how it works. He taught me both in terms of understanding and appreciating theContinue reading “A Vision for What is Possible”

Hooped Earrings and Monster Trucks

Hello from breakfast at Perkins, The beginning of the year is like an episode of the show that was on television when I was small, titled The Twilight Zone. I know that comment is anachronistic, and it reminds me of the last few years I was teaching and things I had used anecdotally earlier inContinue reading “Hooped Earrings and Monster Trucks”

What Might Have Been

Hello from my small, but comfortable space at the Magee. As I ponder the avenues that are in front of me, and as some of you know, the first 18 months of retirement have been a rollercoaster, I find myself also looking at the paths I have traveled, the choices made, and the consequences ofContinue reading “What Might Have Been”

What Constitutes Peaceful?

Hello from Main Street in the only incorporated “town” in Pennsylvania, My head is whirling and my brain seems to be stuck in overdrive. Across the street from my little space I can hear people protesting the events of the last week. I hear cars honking their horns in support. The world seems to beContinue reading “What Constitutes Peaceful?”

Minnesota: 10,000 Lakes and More

Hello from the road, We (my sister-in-law, her husband and I) spent the night in Sandusky, OH, after a long day of driving from the Quad Cities, and on our way back to drop me off in Bloomsburg before they arrive in New Jersey. It was a busy two weeks-plus back in Iowa for theContinue reading “Minnesota: 10,000 Lakes and More”

The Transformation of Boomers

Hello from my room at my sister-in-law’s house, I think we are back down to our last day on this trip, which has lasted a bit longer than I planned, but this is where retirement is advantageous. The Christmas holiday has been nice, and I have met members, part of extended family, whom I hadContinue reading “The Transformation of Boomers”

Arrogance is Never Exceptional

Good morning from the cube, I am cleaning, organizing, and working on some other sundry things. I am a bit ridiculous about organization and cleaning, particularly kitchens and bathrooms, but I am well aware of that idiosyncrasy. Cleaning as a daily chore when I grew up. Each of the three children had required things evenContinue reading “Arrogance is Never Exceptional”

Why am I Fascinated?

Hello from Main Street, I am back in the only official town in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the place where I first moved in the late summer of 2009. It is a typical Main Street of small town Americana, and like many small towns, it has experienced the growing pains of a changing culture, theContinue reading “Why am I Fascinated?”

At 250 . . . Once, Always

Hello from the corner table, Currently, there are a lot of words tossed around (which is not really anything new, but perhaps different ones) that get used, pushed upon the other, and taken out of context. Or sometimes, thinking about the work of Anthony Giddens, the British social theorist, they take on new meanings. PerhapsContinue reading “At 250 . . . Once, Always”