My _Family Circus_ Life

Hello on a humid August afternoon, I am regularly told I’ve led an extraordinary life, from students asking where I am jet-setting off next to regular reactions of surprise or disbelief because of the various experiences I reflect upon as a matter of course; it’s just how my life has unfolded. Certainly, from the outsetContinue reading “My _Family Circus_ Life”

“. . . life to the lees . . . “

Good morning from the darkness of my little corner, I am always amazed by talented people, those who are artistic (e.g. drawing, painting, sculpting, for instance) as I am not particularly talented. I think of a former student who is now an art teacher, and a recent post illustrated (pun intended) how both of herContinue reading ““. . . life to the lees . . . “”

Remembering . . .

Hello from the little borough of Lewisburg, The morning is bright with a brilliant sun, and yet a hint of autumn as there is a morning fog across the fields in the valleys her in Central Pennsylvania. The corn has tasseled, and, yet, in spite of some pretty dry recent weather, things are still quiteContinue reading “Remembering . . .”

Grace, Virginia, Greenlawn, and Ridgelawn

Hello from the resting places of my heritage, When I grew up, there were things my father did like clockwork, from the time we went to bed and the time he rose to Saturday afternoons or evenings to how we prepared for or celebrated holidays. He was a focused, but nonetheless seemed laid back; heContinue reading “Grace, Virginia, Greenlawn, and Ridgelawn”

Can the Calendar Make a Difference?

Hello on a New Year’s afternoon, When I was a boy, the week after Christmas, as I have noted, was spent at my grandmother’s house. The acreage, located on the North side of Sioux City, was a humble, but homely dwelling rather non-descript to the viewer, but anything but for me because it was whereContinue reading “Can the Calendar Make a Difference?”

Imagining a Christmas Spirit

Hello from the living room of my sister-in-law, When I was small, this day was a day of anticipation, a day of incredible cookies, candies, Norwegian delights, and church with candles and carols. It would not be until later I would learn to decorate the house into a fairytale of my own, and make bothContinue reading “Imagining a Christmas Spirit”

Grandma, I Miss You

Hello from my little corner, Sometimes we are called to remember, to give thanks for those things, places, or events, which in some way influence or define the person we’ve become. I think there are definitely those things or events that are quite easy to point to for me. Collectively, health has been a seriesContinue reading “Grandma, I Miss You”

“There’s Just Life”

Buenas tardes por Murcia, La semana ha volado, pero creo que lo mismo podría decirse de las tres semanas aproximadamente que he pasado en Europa. Powrót do miejsc, w których już byłem, a także odkrywanie nowych miejsc w różnych krajach lub w obrębie tego samego miasta pozwala mi rozwijać moją perspektywę, ponieważ zmienia się mojeContinue reading ““There’s Just Life””

Truly Unexpected or Simply Avoided

Hello from the Beetle, I am waiting to meet someone, preparing to share breakfast and listen to their stories about being in a new place for their summer. Four amazing young people have traveled from Quito and Cuenca in Ecuador to spend a summer learning new skills in the restaurant, and in some ways theyContinue reading “Truly Unexpected or Simply Avoided”

Prayers and Promises

Hello on another rainy evening in Pennsylvania, While I asserted we needed some substantial rain back in April, when showers are expected, it is now mid-June and the showers, drizzle, downpours, and incessant forms of precipitation continue. There have been flood warnings more than once, and yet, on a positive note, things are as greenContinue reading “Prayers and Promises”